Nobody wants to be the parent who finds him or herself in the unfortunate position of having their child arrested or charged with a crime. Initial reactions are typically fraught with emotion and confusion.
Police and prosecutors are all too familiar with these issues. Frequently, law enforcement will put pressure on parents and juveniles to hastily make statements or admissions. Before taking any steps that could jeopardize your child’s future, it is imperative to contact a criminal defense attorney experienced in juvenile matters. The Law Office of Thomas Carroll Blauvelt, LLC is an experienced criminal defense law firm with an attorney who is highly skilled in the juvenile crime trial setting.
Did you know that nearly 65,000 juveniles are arrested every year in New Jersey according to New Jersey State Police statistics? The most common juvenile criminal offenses are drug cases (N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10), theft and shoplifting (N.J.S.A. 2C:20), disorderly conduct (N.J.S.A. 2C:52-3), assault (N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1), alcohol-related offenses ("Baby DWI", N.J.S.A. 39:4-50.14), and burglary (N.J.S.A. 2C:18-2).
In New Jersey, a juvenile charged with a crime faces a juvenile adjudication of delinquency. “Delinquency,” means the commission of an act by a juvenile that if committed by an adult would constitute either a crime; a disorderly persons offense or petty disorderly persons offense; or a violation of any other penal statute, ordinance or regulation (N.J.S.A. 2A: 4A-23).
Many juveniles and parents incorrectly assume that juvenile records are “sealed” or erased once the child reaches 18 years of age. This is a common and sometimes tragic misconception. In New Jersey, your Record of Arrest and Prosecution (RAP sheet) contains every arrest, charge, and conviction you have ever had in the state, whether it occurred when you were a juvenile or adult. Your RAP sheet is always available to police, prosecutors and other public officials. Having any blemish on your RAP sheet can result in negative consequences if the juvenile finds him or herself in the New Jersey criminal justice system on a subsequent occasion.
If your child is arrested or charged with a crime in New Jersey, you should act immediately to defend your child’s interests. Many consequences can be avoided or mitigated by immediately hiring an attorney. The earlier an attorney can defend your child, the better.
If your child has been arrested, charged, or is under suspicion by New Jersey law enforcement, immediately contact The Law Office of Thomas Carroll Blauvelt, LLC 24/7 at 1-877-676-7729 to learn how we may help you during this difficult time.
Thomas Carroll Blauvelt, Esq., is a former NJ Municipal Prosecutor and Managing Partner, Law Offices of Thomas Carroll Blauvelt, LLC, with offices in Edison, Bridgewater, Whitehouse Station.
“New Jersey Juvenile Crimes”