Rhode Island Juvenile Offenses

What is a Juvenile Offense?

When a juvenile is accused of a crime, the criminal process is very different than in adult court. The juvenile crime is called an act of delinquency and requires juvenile court intervention to correct the delinquency. The following types of behavior often subject juveniles to juvenile court jurisdiction in Rhode island:

• Skipping school / truancy
• Running away from home
• Staying out after curfew
• Underage alcohol consumption or possession
• Drug use
• Arson
• Traffic violations, including speeding and driving without a license
• Assault and battery
• Shoplifting or theft
• Gang-related activities
• Trespassing
• Sexual misconduct

What are the rights of Rhode Island Children?

Rhode Island courts have their own special rules and procedures. Juvenile rights in court are different than adult rights. For example, juveniles do not have the right to bail or a jury trial. Nor in many cases do they have a right to a public court proceeding. If a child has been taken into custody, he or she is entitled to a detention hearing. At this hearing, a judge will determine whether the child should continue to be detained or released to the custody of the juvenile’s family. Judges use the following criteria when making this determination:

• Whether it is reasonably necessary for the protection of the person or property of another that the child be detained
• Whether the matter is of immediate and urgent necessity for the protection of the child that he or she be detained
• Whether the child is a flight risk
• Whether the child has violated previous court orders

Notwithstanding these differences, juveniles are entitled to receive full notice of all charges against them, the right to a fair hearing, and the right to confront witnesses. Not only are the rules and procedures different from adult court, but defense strategies in these cases require special considerations that are unique to juvenile law, including the options available at sentencing. Depending on the offense, punishments may vary from probation to incarceration in a Rhode Island Youth Authority detention facility. The juvenile law lawyers at Howe Law Offices understand the Rhode Island
juvenile justice code and ensure that the rights of our juvenile clients are fully protected in court. We advise clients in areas ranging from truancy violations to violent felony-level offenses that end up in adult court, and handles issues involving:

• Adjudication Hearings
• Disposition Hearings
• Detention Hearings
• Certification Hearings
• Court and Jury Trials
• Sentencing
• Probation
• Juvenile Stipulations
• Juvenile Programs
• Revocation / Denial Of Driver’s License
• Expunctions

We believe that criminal accusations involving juveniles must receive the same level of attention as adult criminal charges.