A Second Chance for Youth Offenders – Fair Sentencing For Youth Act
A Second Chance for Youth Offenders - Fair Sentencing For Youth Act Carjacking. Murder. At 16 years old, these were Edel Gonzalez’s crimes. Sentenced to life without the possibility of parole in 1993, he never expected to take another breath outside of prison walls. Yet, on March 25, he walked out of prison, having been released on parole. The reason? First, he had an exemplary prison record, having never been…
Read MoreCan a Juvenile Criminal Conviction Count as a Strike Against You?
Can a Juvenile Criminal Conviction Count as a Strike Against You? In California, if you are a juvenile charged with an offense, you have the right to go to trial before a judge. If you lose or choose to take a plea bargain, you may be determined to be guilty by the juvenile court judge. A felony juvenile criminal conviction typically does not count as a strike under California’s “three…
Read MoreHow You Can Be Expelled From School for Off-Campus Incident
How You Can Be Expelled From School for Off-Campus Incident We all know fighting, dealing drugs or bringing weapons on campus can result in expulsion from school. But what many parents do not realize is that their children can be expelled from school for incidents that are not school-related. If your child is expelled for off campus behavior, it is important to know just how much discretion California schools have…
Read MoreWhat is a Juvenile Status Offense?
What is a Juvenile Status Offense? In California, juvenile offenders can be sentenced to time in juvenile hall or even be charged as adults for certain crimes. In other cases, juveniles can find themselves in trouble for minor offenses that they would not be charged for if they were adults. These offenses are known as juvenile status offenses. In most cases, a juvenile status offense can be cleared from your…
Read MoreWhat is Stipulated School Expulsion?
What is Stipulated School Expulsion? If your child is expelled from school, it can have a significant effect on their future and an immediate impact on your life. Expulsion from school can hurt your child’s chances of being accepted to college and your family may have to move to find a new school suitable for your child. If your child is facing expulsion from school, you may be able to…
Read More11 Things You Need to Know about the California Juvenile Court Process
11 Things You Need to Know about the California Juvenile Court Process If you or a loved one has a family member under the age of 18 who is in trouble with the law, the minor will likely be tried in juvenile court instead of an adult criminal court. The main difference between the two courts is that juvenile courts are designed to rehabilitate, educate and counsel minors, while adult…
Read MoreMinors May Not Plead in Delinquency Matters Without Their Attorney’s Consent
Minors May Not Plead in Delinquency Matters Without Their Attorney’s Consent A recent decision by the California Supreme Court centers on whether a minor facing the prospect of agreeing to a plea bargain in a juvenile case may do so without their lawyer’s consent. The court held that a child does not have an absolute right to accept a plea offer over the objections of an attorney appointed to protect…
Read More13 Typical Punishments for Juvenile Offenders
13 Typical Punishments for Juvenile Offenders Criminal defendants under the age of 18 are sent to juvenile court. In juvenile court, you will not be tried in front of a jury. Instead, a judge will look at the evidence presented by a prosecutor and reach a decision on whether you have committed the crime. Juvenile courts offer youth offenders many sentencing options, also known as “disposition orders.” These sentencing options…
Read MoreCan You Appeal A School Expulsion?
Can You Appeal A School Expulsion? Students from grade school to high school and their parents need to understand that being expelled from school can lead to devastating consequences. Fortunately, you are allowed to appeal a decision made at a school expulsion hearing. Our attorneys at Wallin & Klarich have over 40 years of experience assisting families successfully appeal an expulsion. We want to share with how the process of…
Read MoreDo Juveniles Sentenced to Life Deserve a Second Chance? Senate Bill 9 (SB 9)
Do Juveniles Sentenced to Life Deserve a Second Chance? Senate Bill 9 (SB 9) Do Juveniles Sentenced to Life Deserve a Second Chance? As a society, Americans believe that punishment should fit the crime. But shouldn't punishment also fit the criminal? An adult who is convicted of wrongdoing should be sentenced to a punishment that accomplishes more than just a response to behavior we find unacceptable. It should also be…
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