Criminal Defense
California Division of Juvenile Justice
The Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) is part of California's criminal justice system that deals exclusively with the crimes and subsequent punishment and rehabilitation of our youth. Originally known as the California Youth Authority (CYA), the division began in 1943, providing training and parole supervision for juvenile and young adult offenders. The DJJ's mission is to protect the public from criminal activity. The law mandates the Division to: • Provide…
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Juvenile Sex Crime Appealed
Cursory Investigation of Potentially Exculpatory Evidence Amounts to Inadequate Assistance of Counsel for Minor – Why You Need an Experienced Juvenile Defense Attorney When hiring a criminal defense attorney in California to represent your child, be sure he/she is competent, aggressive and thorough. In the case of In re Edward S. 2009 DJDAR 6066, the Court of Appeal ruled that a minor's trial had to be reversed and remanded back…
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Statutory Right for Juveniles to Petition to Seal Records
If You Have a Juvenile Record, You Have a Statutory Right to Hire a Juvenile Defense Attorney to Petition the California Juvenile Court to Seal Your Record You would be hard pressed to find anyone who has not made a mistake as a youth. Youthful indiscretions, no matter how common, may greatly affect an individual's life thereafter. Often times a juvenile record in California can come back to haunt a…
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Beaumont Boy, 12, Accused Of Killing His Friend, Needs a Juvenile Criminal Defense Attorney
In a tragic story published in the Los Angeles Times, a 12 year old Beaumont boy had been accused of shooting and killing his friend, who was also 12. The boy was arrested and booked into Riverside Juvenile Hall on suspicion of murder in California. Police have also arrested the parents of the boy, Patricia and Christopher Willis, and charged them with negligent storage of firearms and child endangerment. The…
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Juvenile Criminal Convictions Reversed
Hundreds of Juvenile Court Criminal Convictions Reversed Due to Alleged Actions of Judge who Took Millions of Dollars in Kickbacks It was reported in the Los Angeles Times on March 27, 2009 that a state Supreme Court has reversed convictions in hundreds of juvenile crime cases due to the corrupt actions of a former judge. It was reported that this judge was being prosecuted for allegedly taking over 2.6 million…
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Calilfornia Juvenile Record Sealing Regulations
Juvenile crimes in California do appear on your criminal record. Upon your 18th birthday, you are eligible to petition to have your juvenile records sealed. Once sealed, no one can gain access to them and they will be completely destroyed five years from the date of sealing. Juvenile records are not automatically sealed upon your 18th birthday. California Welfare and Institutions Code § 781 is the statute that gives you…
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Juvenile Attempted Child Molestation
Juvenile Defendant Wins New Trial in Child Molest Case Based Upon Ineffective Assistance of Counsel for Failure to Properly Investigate the Facts of Case Recently the court of appeals has reversed the conviction of a juvenile who was accused of attempted child molestation after the juvenile was found guilty by a judge of committing the alleged offense. The court of appeals found that the juvenile had received deficient legal representation…
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California Juvenile Crime Records Can be Sealed
What Does it Mean to Seal your Juvenile Record? Sealing the records for your juvenile crimes in California means that all records held by the police department, the court, the district attorney, and the probation department will be deemed not to have occurred. You can answer "no" to any questions asking whether you have a criminal record or whether you've ever been arrested. You can also answer "no" if you…
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California Juvenile Possession of Marijuana
What Happens If I'm A Juvenile And I'm Caught With Marijuana In My Possession? What Are The Consequences If I'm Convicted? A conviction for possession of marijuana, even for a small amount, can have serious consequences. This is especially true if you are under the age of 18. If you are under the age of 18, your case will be handled in the juvenile courts. If you are convicted of…
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California Minor in Possession Law Explained
Minor in Possession of Alcohol Many people under the age of 21 think it is okay to consume alcohol as long as they stay under the 0.08% limit. It is true that according to the law, intoxication is defined as having a blood alcohol level of 0.08% or higher and driving under the influence of alcohol if behind the wheel. That law only applies to people who are twenty-one or…
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