Juvenile Offenses

Pennsylvania Juvenile Crime Defense Attorney

Juvenile court is very different from adult court. The initial focus is not on punishing the juvenile offender. Instead, the Courts focus on rehabilitation. While this is good news for the juvenile offender, he or she still needs qualified legal counsel. At the Law Offices of V. Erik Petersen, I am familiar with the different rules and procedures that are used to deal with juvenile offenses. My goal is to preserve your child's clean record so that this encounter does not affect his or her future. To discuss your legal needs in more detail, contact the Law Offices of V. Erik Petersen for a free consultation.

Juvenile Offenses
Minors end up in juvenile court for a variety of reasons. I handle juvenile delinquency cases that involve

    * Drug charges
    * Assault
    * DUI
    * Underage drinking
    * Auto theft and joyriding
    * Burglary
    * Sex crimes
    * Shoplifting
    * Status Offenses

In Juvenile Court
The juvenile court system is completely separate from the adult criminal justice system. Juveniles do not have a right to a jury trial. Instead, they are tried before a Judge only. When I handle a juvenile case, I work with the entire family, the probation department, counselors if needed, the District Attorney's Office and the Judge in order to resolve the issues. Whenever I propose a solution, I think in the long term so that my client's ability to attend college or obtain employment will remain unaffected. Unless the crime is very serious, juveniles do not usually go to jail. Instead, they stay on probation, or complete a community service requirement to satisfy their sentence. Once enough time has passed, I can also try to have the case expunged from their record.

If you or your child has been charged with juvenile delinquency, contact the Law Offices of V. Erik Petersen for a free consultation with a Montgomery County defense lawyer.

The Law Offices of V. Erik Petersen represents clients throughout Pennsylvania including the cities of Lansdale, Norristown, North Wales, Kulpsville, Collegeville, Blue Bell, Reading, Doylestown, Pottstown, Philadelphia, Hatboro, King of Prussia, Conshohocken, Sellersville, Levittown, Harleysville, Hatfield, Horsham, Hatboro, Skippack, Telford, and Limerick.

Montgomery County • Bucks County • Berks County • Chester County • Delaware County • Philadelphia County • Lehigh County • Northampton County