The 10 Most Common Juvenile Crimes

There is no greater teacher than our own mistakes, and there are very few people who can honestly say that their younger days were not full of these lessons. But for some, those mistakes could lead to being accused of a crime.

Juveniles face harsh consequences for crimes. With that in mind, here are some of the more common crimes for which you or your child may face a charge.1 If you child is charged with any of these crimes, you should speak to a skilled juvenile attorney immediately.

Assault and Battery (PC 240 and PC 243)

In 2014, 10,343 juveniles were arrested for assault and battery in California. Due to increased pressure from parents, schools and the media, California law enforcement agencies are paying more attention to bullying. Bullying becomes a juvenile crime if the victim is actually physically contacted (battery under California Penal Code Section 243), or if he or she reasonably believes that the aggressor is imminently capable of causing real physical harm (assault under California Penal Code Section 240).

Theft (PC 484)

Property crimes, including theft, account for more than half of all juvenile arrests in California. Commonly, this takes the form of shoplifting, or stealing items from a friend’s home, or a locker at school. Depending on the value of what is taken, property theft or larceny is a “wobbler,” meaning it can be charged as a felony or a misdemeanor.

Alcohol Offenses

Juveniles face a unique set of possible crimes because of their age. These are known as “status offenses,” which are acts that would be otherwise legal if the juvenile had committed them after reaching a minimum required age. Many of these offenses involve alcohol, such as possession, purchasing or consuming alcohol before the age of 21 (California Business and Professions Code 25662).

Marijuana and Other Drug Offenses (HS 11357)

Next to alcohol, marijuana possession is the most common drug-related crime for which juveniles are arrested in California, accounting for over 4,000 arrests in 2014.

Disorderly Conduct

Disorderly conduct is a broad category of acts that are prohibited because they are disruptive to an orderly society. These acts include disturbing the peace under California Penal Code Section 415 (for example, fighting or challenging someone to a fight in public) and indecent exposure under California Penal Code Section 314.

California has also recently amended Penal Code Section 647 to define sharing nude images of a person without their permission as a form of disorderly conduct. This act, commonly referred to as “revenge porn,” has risen in popularity. However, juveniles need to know that sharing nude or explicit photos of minors (including themselves) is a more serious child pornography crime under California Penal Code Section 311. A conviction could require you to register as a sex offender for the rest of your life under California Penal Code Section 290.

Vandalism (PC 594)

Vandalism is a crime under California Penal Code Section 594, and it is a wobbler crime that takes many forms. Your minor child could be convicted of this crime for throwing objects to break a window in a home or a car, or it might involve tagging a building or overpass with graffiti. Vandalism accounted for 2,717 juvenile arrests in California in 2014.

Trespassing (PC 602)

Juveniles are often arrested for being in a place where they do not have permission to be. This includes being on private land without the owner’s permission or being in a public place after curfew. Nearly 1,300 juvenile arrests were made for trespassing in California in 2014.

Weapons Charges

For juveniles, weapons charges can stem from either status offenses or generally prohibited offenses. For example, California Penal Code Section 29610 specifically prohibits minors from possessing a pistol, revolver or other firearm that is capable of being concealed upon their person. In 2014, over 1,200 juveniles were arrested on weapons charges in California.

Driving Under the Influence (CVC 23152(a) and (b))

Although alcohol crimes appeared earlier on this list, driving under the influence has its own place on this list because of the serious consequences a conviction carries, and because of how often it occurs.

Punishment for a DUI conviction extends well beyond a juvenile’s record, affecting their ability to obtain a driver’s license and gain employment.

Truancy

Truancy is another status offense. While skipping school is not generally considered a serious offense, it can have steep consequences. For example, if your child is declared a “habitual truant” (i.e., he or she was caught ditching school three or more times in one school year), California law permits the DMV to suspend his or her driver’s license for one year.

Contact the Juvenile Defense Attorneys at Wallin & Klarich Today

Our judicial system recognizes that young people often do dumb things, and as such, generally deserve different treatment than adults who make the same kinds of mistakes. However, that does not mean that a juvenile offense should be taken lightly. A juvenile conviction can have long-lasting consequences, which is why you should consult with a law firm that has experience handling juvenile cases. At Wallin & Klarich, our attorneys have over 40 years of experience fighting for the rights of juvenile defendants. Contact us today for a free, no obligation phone consultation.

With offices in Orange County, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, Ventura, Victorville, West Covina, San Diego, Torrance and Sherman Oaks, there is a Wallin & Klarich attorney experienced in juvenile defense near you no matter where you work or live.

Call us today at (877) 4-NO-JAIL or (877) 466-5245 for a free phone consultation. We will be there when you call.

^{1. Office of Attorney General, “Juvenile Justice in California,” 2014, available for download at https://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/agweb/pdfs/cjsc/publications/misc/jj14/preface.pdf? The most recently available data is from 2014. href=”#ref1″>↩}