Juvenile Crimes

Southlake Juvenile Defense Attorney

A teenager’s arrest can create confusion and uncertainty for a parent. You cannot assume that the system will treat your child leniently. Any mistake a parent makes early in the legal process could be detrimental. You’ll need to retain an aggressive Southlake juvenile defense attorney at Barrett Legal PLLC to step in and advocate on your child’s behalf.

Even teenagers with bright futures can make poor decisions or be in the wrong place at the wrong time. In other cases, a young person could be targeted by the police based on mistaken identity or a fabricated allegation. A Southlake juvenile defense lawyer at Barrett Legal PLLC can challenge the state’s evidence and strive to keep a criminal charge from ruining your child’s future.

If your teenager is in trouble with the law, today or in the future, call Barrett Legal PLLC at 817-512-7044 to learn more and to schedule your first consultation with an experienced Texas juvenile defense attorney.

The Texas Juvenile Justice System

Juvenile courts in Texas have jurisdiction over minors who are at least 10 years old and under 17 years old at the time of an alleged criminal offense. If an offense occurs before the teen turns 17, the juvenile courts retain jurisdiction over the case even if court proceedings extend past the youth’s 17th birthday.

Texas law requires juvenile courts to focus on rehabilitation, accountability, and public safety. Still, parents cannot let this focus on rehabilitation give them a false sense of security. In juvenile cases, prosecutors still seek formal determinations of guilt, strict probation terms, and, in some cases, commitments to state juvenile facilities.

When a juvenile is arrested in Tarrant County, law enforcement officers transport the youth to the Juvenile Detention Center in Fort Worth. Court appearances take place before juvenile court judges who hold broad discretion over detention, probation conditions, and facility placements. A lawyer who understands local juvenile court procedures gives your child a critical advantage.

Delinquent Conduct vs. Conduct Indicating a Need for Supervision

Juvenile offenses in Texas are classified as delinquent conduct or as conduct indicating a need for supervision. Knowing the difference helps parents understand the penalties their child may face.

Delinquent conduct is an offense that would constitute a crime punishable by a prison or jail term if committed by an adult. Delinquent conduct includes state jail felonies; third-, second-, and first-degree felonies; and Class A and Class B misdemeanors. Examples include:

  1. Assaults and fighting
  2. Drug possession or distribution
  3. Burglary, theft, and retail shoplifting
  4. Vandalism and criminal mischief
  5. DWI (driving while intoxicated) and DUI (driving under the influence)

Conduct indicating a need for supervision (CINS) offenses apply only to minors. These cases include running away from home, fine-only misdemeanor violations, and truancy. While a CINS allegation does not result in a commitment to a state juvenile facility, these charges can lead to court-ordered counseling and probation.

Stages in a Juvenile Case

Unlike adult criminal cases, where suspects in custody can post a cash bail for immediate release, the juvenile legal process follows a different process. Every stage presents distinct opportunities for an aggressive Southlake juvenile defense attorney to fight for a reduction or dismissal of charges.

Detention Hearings

When a teen is arrested, the state does not allow parents to post a bond. Instead, the child remains in detention until a formal detention hearing. The initial detention hearing must be conducted no later than the second working day after the child’s arrest. If police arrest a minor on a Friday or Saturday, the detention hearing must take place on the first working day of the following week.

During this hearing, a prosecutor must present evidence to justify continued detention. The judge determines if the child is likely to abscond, lacks suitable parental care, or poses a danger to themselves or the community. A Southlake juvenile defense lawyer can advocate at this hearing for the child’s immediate release to the family.

Diversion Programs and Informal Adjustment

For minor offenses or first-time allegations, Texas allows informal adjustment, a diversion program in which a young person completes classes, performs community service, and/or pays restitution to a victim, without a formal court adjudication. Completion of a diversion program results in the complete dismissal of the juvenile charge and preserves the youth’s clean record.

Adjudication Hearings

If the prosecutor files a petition alleging delinquent conduct, the case proceeds to an adjudication hearing, the trial phase of the juvenile justice process. The prosecution’s task in an adjudication hearing is to prove that the accused juvenile committed the alleged offense.

During adjudication, juveniles enjoy basic legal rights, including the right to a trial by jury, the right to cross-examine witnesses, and the right to avoid self-incrimination. A defense lawyer at Barrett Legal PLLC can review police reports, challenge flawed evidence, and examine witnesses to fight for a reduced charge or an acquittal.

Disposition Hearings

If a judge or jury finds that a child is guilty of delinquent conduct, then a disposition hearing determines the penalty or treatment plan. Potential dispositions range from community-based probation to commitment in a state juvenile facility.

Parental Rights

When the police arrest a minor, Texas law requires them to immediately notify the child’s parents, guardian, or custodian and state the reasons for the arrest. Parents hold these legal rights:

  1. A right to prompt notification of the child’s arrest and detention location.
  2. A right to unhindered access to see and speak with the child in detention.
  3. A right to attend and participate in court appearances alongside the child.
  4. A right to have the child represented by a juvenile defense attorney.

A written or recorded statement made by a child in custody is inadmissible in court unless a magistrate judge, without law enforcement officers present, has previously advised the child of their constitutional rights. To be admissible, a statement must be made voluntarily in the magistrate’s presence.

Parents should instruct their children never to answer police questions or sign documents for the police without a defense attorney present. If the police violated your child’s rights or failed to adhere to the interrogation rules, a lawyer at Barrett Legal PLLC can file a motion to suppress any self-incriminating statements obtained illegally.

Adult Certification and Determinate Sentencing

When the state accuses a teenager of a serious felony offense, it may seek to remove the case from the juvenile court system entirely. A defense lawyer at Barrett Legal PLLC can fight to keep your child’s case in the juvenile system and ensure that rehabilitation rather than punishment remains the priority.

Transfer to Adult Court (Adult Certification)

Under Texas state law, a prosecutor can ask the juvenile court to waive its jurisdiction and move a minor to the adult criminal justice system. This process, known as adult certification, applies to teenagers 14 or older accused of capital felonies, aggravated controlled-substance felonies, or first-degree felonies, and to teenagers 15 or older accused of second-degree, third-degree, or state-jail felony offenses.

When a judge certifies a minor as an adult, the youth may be prosecuted in adult criminal court, confined in an adult prison, and burdened with a permanent adult criminal record. Barrett Legal PLLC can challenge a transfer petition by demonstrating the child’s potential for rehabilitation within the juvenile system and presenting detailed psychological, educational, and family evaluations.

Determinate Sentencing

For specific serious offenses, a prosecutor can seek a determinate sentence by obtaining a grand jury petition. Determinate sentencing allows a court to impose a sentence of up to 40 years.

The youth begins serving a determinate sentence in a Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) facility. But before the youth turns 19, the court holds a hearing to determine whether to release the offender on adult parole or transfer the offender to the adult prison system.

The defense lawyers at Barrett Legal PLLC aggressively oppose determinate sentencing requests to protect teenagers from adult prison terms.

Probation vs. TJJD Commitment

When a court enters a disposition order, the judge decides whether the minor should remain at home on probation or be sent to a state juvenile facility. The defense strategy we prepare seeks to keep your child at home and in the community. If the court grants probation under community supervision, it enforces strict rules, including:

  1. Mandatory curfews and electronic monitoring
  2. Attendance at school, vocational training, or a tutoring program
  3. Unannounced drug testing conducted by juvenile probation officers
  4. Mandatory community service hours and financial restitution to victims
  5. Strict travel restrictions 

When a child commits repeated offenses or a violent felony, the court may order commitment to a Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) facility that isolates young people from their families and communities. Before committing a child to a TJJD facility, the court considers the minor’s prior delinquency record, school performance, family stability, and substance abuse history.

The juvenile defense lawyers at Barrett Legal PLLC fight TJJD commitments by presenting structured, community-based alternative rehabilitation plans.

Why Families Choose Barrett Legal PLLC

Barrett Legal PLLC proudly represents families across Texas, with offices in Southlake, Abilene, Corpus Christi, Beeville, Victoria, and Perryton. We bring diverse legal backgrounds, extensive courtroom experience, and a commitment to giving young people second chances.

We don’t accept quick plea deals that compromise a teenager’s future. Our juvenile defense team investigates every detail of your child’s case and strives to cast doubt on the prosecution’s evidence. When you retain the services of Barrett Legal PLLC, we tackle your child’s case as a team to deliver a comprehensive, effective defense strategy.

You can’t allow a single mistake or a fabricated allegation to destroy your teenager’s future. Instead, protect your child’s freedom and rights by partnering with a defense team that fights to win. Call Barrett Legal PLLC at 817-512-7044 to schedule your first consultation with an experienced Texas juvenile defense attorney.