KENNETH D. AITA, ESQUIRE

JUVENILE CRIME

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    The juvenile justice system seeks to hold youths accountable for their misconducts. However, the system is also meant to aid juveniles, so they do not face incarceration or obtain a criminal record. The intention of the system is to fairly punish juveniles for their crimes, but also offer them an opportunity for rehabilitation. When a juvenile is charged with a crime, it is essential to speak to a criminal defense lawyer immediately.

    Status Offenses

    Young people can be charged with status offenses which are
    considered a violation of law due to the age of the offender. States vary in
    what they consider status offenses. Examples include underage possession and
    consumption of alcohol, running away from home, and truancy.

    For acts that are considered adult crimes, juveniles will be charged with delinquency as opposed to a criminal charge. For example, if a juvenile is accused of burglary, the charge would be for the act of burglary. If this act was committed by an adult, it would constitute a crime of the third degree. 

    In New Jersey, a juvenile is anyone under the age of 18. The
    state has a responsibility to act in the best interests of a juvenile that is
    facing criminal prosecution. The prime objective is to be protective rather
    than punitive. The Juvenile Justice Commission is the state agency responsible
    for developing and implementing programs to aid in this effort. 

    This protective approach ensures public safety while preserving
    families and preventing juveniles from committing crimes in the future.

    What to Expect If Taken Into Custody

    When someone under 18 is arrested or taken into custody, they
    are detained in a Juvenile Detention Facility. At the facility, they will be
    evaluated to determine whether they pose a threat to themselves or others. A
    judge will decide whether the youth will be released or remain in custody. 

    Legal Action Against Juveniles for Less Serious Offenses

    A young person charged with a status offense who has no prior
    offense history in the state, will be handled using an informal process. A
    notice of appearance will be sent with a set date for an initial proceeding. In
    this proceeding, a municipal judge or other appointed official will make an
    informal ruling. The ruling usually refers the case to a Juvenile Conference
    Committee for a resolution. The committee can order that the child undergo
    drug, alcohol, or psychological counseling. Other potential outcomes are
    community service, fines, or restitution, depending on the circumstances.

    Legal Action Against Juveniles for More Serious Acts

    Proceedings regarding more serious acts are heard in the
    Superior Court, Chancery Division, Family Part. In this case, a juvenile will
    be charged with an act of delinquency on a complaint of juvenile delinquency rather
    than being charged with a crime on criminal complaint. The charging document
    clarifies the status of the defendant as a juvenile. These cases require legal
    representation of the juvenile.

    The first step in the proceedings is a plea hearing where
    evidence is provided, and the juvenile enters a plea. At this stage, a plea
    agreement may be negotiated. If the case is not resolved at this point, an
    adjudicator hearing will be held before a judge. The case must be proven beyond
    a reasonable doubt. If a juvenile does not prevail, the youth has 45 days to
    appeal the decision. 

    The disposition of the case will be based on the specifics of
    the case. Outcomes can include counseling, residential mental health or
    substance abuse treatment, community service, or probation. 

    Juveniles can be detained if found guilty of charges of a
    serious nature. The Juvenile Justice Code specifies sentencing requirements for
    a juvenile. Rehabilitation of a juvenile is considered the best course of action;
    their charges will generally be much less than an adult who is charged.

    Haddonfield Criminal Lawyers at Aita Law, LLC Help Juveniles
    Who Are Charged with Crimes

    If your child has been accused of delinquency, you may have several questions about your legal options. Issues arise immediately as to whether the child will be held in custody, so it is best to speak to an experienced lawyer as soon as possible. Our knowledgeable Haddonfield criminal lawyers at Aita Law, LLC have experience handling various juvenile cases. Contact us online or call us at 856-287-7800 for a free consultation today. With offices conveniently located in Haddonfield and Marlton, New Jersey, we proudly serve clients in Cherry Hill, Camden County, and throughout South Jersey.

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    KENNETH D. AITA, ESQUIRE

    Mr. Aita has successfully defended thousands of criminal cases. When you or a loved one is charged with a crime, it is an extremely daunting and frightening time. Criminal charges and convictions can have devastating effects on your life. You can be fired from your job, you can hurt your ability to get employment in the future, and most importantly could lose your precious freedom. Mr. Aita not only has the experience and expertise to represent you, but the compassion and understanding to help you through this difficult and confusing process. In a criminal case, everyone is against you; the police, the judge, and certainly the prosecutor, whose job is to get convictions. Mr. Aita is not only your skilled legal advocate, but is in your corner to protect you against the vast government resources that are against you. Make no mistake, fighting a criminal case is a war. You need an attorney willing to go to battle. Mr. Aita is in the trenches every single day tirelessly fighting for justice for his clients.

    Attorney aggregator avvo.com rates Ken Aita at over a 9 for his criminal defense work.

    “We could not possibly have had better representation than Mr. Aita”

    5 of 5 rating

    Posted by anonymous on avvo.com

    “Our son was facing very serious felony charges that could have impacted him for the rest of his life. Although the crime was a non-violent offence it was being taken very seriously by the police and the district attorney. After months of investigation we were notified that there would be an arrest and felony charges. Ken was with us through the investigation and arranged for our son to turn himself in for booking to avoid a public arrest. He was on the phone with us constantly and took our calls at all hours of the day and night. More importantly he was constantly on the phone with the investigators and district attorney pointing out facts that were favorable to our side of the story. In the end Ken arranged for a plea deal that wound up with a probation that will end with the charges being dropped upon successful completion of the probation terms. We didn’t even know that was possible. We will use Mr. Aita to expunge the arrest record when the time comes and now our son has his future back. We could not be more pleased. The process is so stressful and traumatic that you need an attorney like Mr. Aita to guide you through it.”

    CALL US

    (856) 287-7800

    HADDONFIELD OFFICE

    35 Kings Highway East Suite 200 Haddonfield, NJ 08033

    MARLTON OFFICE

    34 S. Maple Ave Marlton, NJ 08053

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