Los Angeles Criminal Defense

Juvenile Court Representation

The District Attorney may have filed a petition in Juvenile Court accusing your child of one or several crimes. The purpose of the Disposition Hearing is to determine the sentence or whether to dismiss a sustained petition regarding a child who has been found a ward of the court and to hear evidence and make other orders regarding disposition.

Although the District Attorney filed the petition accusing the child of many crimes, the Juvenile Court Commissioner or Juvenile Court Judge controls the disposition hearing to determine the present condition and future welfare of the child to arrive at a fair and effective disposition.

Rights At The Disposition Hearing

The Juvenile Court must advise an unrepresented child, parent or guardian of the right to be represented by a Defense Lawyer, the right against self-incrimination, the right to confront and cross-examine witnesses and preparers of police reports, the right to subpoena witnesses, the right to present evidence.

The child, parent or guardian and their Juvenile Lawyers have the right to receive probation officer reports and to see the documents used to prepare the reports.

These experienced Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorneys have years of successful dispositions with the California Juvenile Courts.

The Juvenile Court considers the probation officer's social study and may consider relevant and material evidence that may be offered, including evidence offered by the probation officer, the child, or the parent or guardian. The Juvenile Court Commissioner or Juvenile Court Judge listens to the evidence on the most appropriate disposition for the child.

The Juvenile Court considers the child age, the crimes filed by the District Attorney, and the child's criminal history in establishing the best disposition for the child. The Juvenile Court may also consider the probation officer's social study.

Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorneys

Sentencing Options

At the end of the Disposition Hearing, the Juvenile Court may dismiss the petition in the interests of justice and the child's welfare, or because the child does not need treatment or rehabilitation. The juvneile court may order dismissal whether or not the child has been declared a ward.

The Juvenile Court may also place the child on informal probation, deferred entry of judgment, declare the child a ward of the court, keep the child at home, remove the child from home, order the parent or guardian to retain custody of the child without probation officer supervision, impose a fine or restitution, or place the child in Juvenile Hall, ranch, camp, or send the child to the DJF - Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Division of Juvenile Facilities, formerly the Division of Juvenile of Justice, formerly the California Youth Authority.

Juvenile Law in California states Juvenile Proceedings are mainly rehabilitative and may not result in retribution. With the help of experienced Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorneys, the Juvenile Court will arrive at the best and most appropriate disposition for the child.

If your child has been accused of juvenile delinquency in California, contact the Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorneys with a former Juvenile Court Commissioner to defend the case.