Chester County Juvenile Offenses

Under Pennsylvania law, providing certain exceptions, individuals who are between ages 10 and 17 will face charges at the juvenile level when they are charged with a crime. Juveniles who face charges are entitled to similar means for justice under the law as adults. In Chester County, matters of juvenile offenses are resolved in the Juvenile Justice Division of the Chester County Court of Common Pleas, located in West Chester, PA. Chester County focuses on restorative justice and post-delinquency education to administer juvenile justice.

Juvenile Offenses in Chester County

When a juvenile faces charges, the court will conduct a brief hearing process. This process will be similar in some respects to that encountered in the adult criminal justice system. Most commonly, a juvenile will face two hearings: an adjudication hearing, and if necessary, a disposition hearing. At an adjudication hearing, a juvenile will be held to answer for their alleged crimes by a judge and prosecutor. The prosecutor will attempt to prove that the juvenile committed a "delinquent" act beyond a reasonable doubt. If a juvenile is proven guilty of a "delinquency," the case will then move forward to a disposition hearing. A disposition hearing can be likened to a sentencing hearing in a criminal matter. The judge will decide what method of "sentencing," or disposition, is appropriate for the juvenile. This can be either confinement to a juvenile detention center or a period of juvenile probation under court supervision. The judge will take into account a number of factors when deciding whether or not detention is appropriate, including the severity of the crime, the juvenile's willingness to cooperate with prospective Chester County Juvenile Court services, and any history of offenses.

Juvenile Probation in Chester County

When a juvenile is found delinquent, if the judge believes probation is appropriate at the disposition hearing, the court will assign a juvenile probation officer to the case. The juvenile probation officer will act similarly to an adult probation officer. Among other conditions of probation supervision, this means regular check-ins and likely drug testing will be involved. In addition to supervision by a probation officer, the court may also suggest certain programs for the juvenile to participate in as part of their probation. These programs are often rehabilitative, restorative, and educational in nature. A probation officer will measure a juvenile's participation and adjustment in these programs as a term of their probation as well.

The Chester County Juvenile Probation Department is located in the Chester County Courthouse, 201 W. Market Street, Suite 3100, West Chester, PA 19380.

Chester County Juvenile Defense Attorney | West Chester Juvenile Criminal Defense Attorney

Juvenile Court can be a frightening and confusing process for a younger child and his or her parents. Prosecutors see many juvenile cases and may offer little compassion for a child who makes a mistake, even a first offender. In addition, the Chester County Prosecutor's Office will use similar tactics for juvenile cases as they do with adult cases to secure convictions. For these reasons, a juvenile's best defense rests in the hands of an experienced criminal defense and juvenile defense attorney.

Juveniles who are facing delinquency proceedings in West Chester, and their parents and families, can be overwhelmed by what takes place. The stakes can be high, and the LLF Law Firm leverages their experience in the juvenile justice system to allow their juvenile clients to move forward from what is often a regrettable mistake, and to also help their families get through what is often their most difficult time in life. They know how to approach the Chester County Juvenile Court, the judge, the Juvenile Division of the Chester County District Attorney's Office, and the juvenile probation officer, and they are not satisfied until they get their juvenile clients and their families the best possible result. Their experience both behind the scenes and on the frontlines allows them to understand a client's juvenile offense from all angles and allows them to find and employ the most effective strategies to get favorable outcomes for any juvenile client and their families.

If you or your loved one is facing juvenile charges, or negotiating a period of juvenile probation in West Chester or Chester County, PA, contact the LLF Law Firm today.

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The LLF Law Firm Team has decades of experience successfully resolving clients' criminal charges in Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania counties. If you are having any uncertainties about what the future may hold for you or a loved one, contact the LLF Law Firm today! Our Criminal Defense Team will go above and beyond the needs of any client, and will fight until the final bell rings.

This website was created only for general information purposes. It is not intended to be construed as legal advice for any situation. Only a direct consultation with a licensed Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York attorney can provide you with formal legal counsel based on the unique details surrounding your situation. The pages on this website may contain links and contact information for third party organizations - the Lento Law Firm does not necessarily endorse these organizations nor the materials contained on their website. In Pennsylvania, Attorney Joseph D. Lento represents clients throughout Pennsylvania's 67 counties, including, but not limited to Philadelphia, Allegheny, Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Chester, Dauphin, Delaware, Lancaster, Lehigh, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Schuylkill, and York County. In New Jersey, attorney Joseph D. Lento represents clients throughout New Jersey's 21 counties: Atlantic, Bergen, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Salem, Somerset, Sussex, Union, and Warren County, In New York, Attorney Joseph D. Lento represents clients throughout New York's 62 counties. Outside of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York, unless attorney Joseph D. Lento is admitted pro hac vice if needed, his assistance may not constitute legal advice or the practice of law. The decision to hire an attorney in Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania counties, New Jersey, New York, or nationwide should not be made solely on the strength of an advertisement. We invite you to contact the Lento Law Firm directly to inquire about our specific qualifications and experience. Communicating with the Lento Law Firm by email, phone, or fax does not create an attorney-client relationship. The Lento Law Firm will serve as your official legal counsel upon a formal agreement from both parties. Any information sent to the Lento Law Firm before an attorney-client relationship is made is done on a non-confidential basis.

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