Juvenile crime remains a serious problem in the United States, putting youths at risk every day of punishments and penalties that could affect the rest of their lives. In fact, in 2005, juveniles were involved in one in 11 arrests for murder in the U.S., one in 10 arrests for drug abuse, and one in …
Juvenile crime remains a serious problem in the United States, putting youths at risk every day of punishments and penalties that could affect the rest of their lives. In fact, in 2005, juveniles were involved in one in 11 arrests for murder in the U.S., one in 10 arrests for drug abuse, and one in four arrests for a weapons violation, motor vehicle theft, robbery, burglary, and larceny-theft. With the enormous amount of pressure that society puts on today’s youth, it’s no wonder that even well-adjusted children succumb to peer pressure, drugs, anger and anxiety. Unfortunately, the penalties inflicted on youths for their crimes, especially those tried in adult criminal court, are often severe and may only perpetuate the devastating criminal cycle. For this reason, it is imperative that youths facing juvenile crime charges enlist the legal help of a qualified criminal defense attorney today. If your child has been accused of a juvenile crime in Oklahoma, contact our Oklahoma City criminal defense attorneys for qualified legal representation.
What is Juvenile Crime?
Juvenile crimes are offenses carried out by individuals not yet old enough to be held responsible for criminal acts. In Oklahoma, the age for criminal culpability is 18 years old, which means youths under the age of 18 who commit a crime are typically not tried in adult criminal court. Unfortunately, if the juvenile court waives its jurisdiction, a juvenile charged with a crime may be transferred to adult court, where the youth may be tried and sentenced as an adult with much harsher penalties. While it’s true that age doesn’t make a serious crime any less important, the motivations behind juvenile crimes should be taken into consideration by law enforcement agencies and prosecutors in order to break the destructive cycle of crime and punishment.
Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act
In 1968, Congress passed the Juvenile Delinquency Prevention and Control Act to encourage states to develop federally-funded community programs in an effort to discourage juvenile delinquency. This Act was a precursor to the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act that replaced it in 1974, which led to the development of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Runaway Youth Program and the National Institute for Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. This Act represented the strong stand the United States had taken in preventing juvenile delinquency, deinstitutionalizing youth already in the system, and keeping youth offenders separate from adult offenders in the court system.
Criminal Defense Attorneys for Juvenile Crimes
The penalties associated with juvenile crimes in Oklahoma can adversely affect the rest of an individual’s life. If you or a loved one is facing charges for a juvenile crime in Oklahoma City, your first course of action should be to contact a qualified OK criminal defense attorney with experience in defending youths against juvenile crime charges. Our compassionate attorneys understand that the child whose future is at stake today will soon grow into a responsible member of society, and it is our goal to protect the rights of those facing juvenile crime accusations. With the help of the skilled criminal defense attorneys at Oklahoma Legal Center, youths charged with a juvenile crime can ensure that they are fully aware of their legal rights and can protect themselves from injustices in the juvenile court system.