What will happen if my child is accused and or convicted of a crime?
If you are facing an issue with the law and your child is under 17 years of age, you will be directed to the Michigan juvenile justice system . In Grayling , if your child has broken the law, you will be referred to the Family Division of the 46 th Circuit Court . Each city has its own way of dealing with juvenile offenders and depending on the crime, punishments will also vary. What will always remain the same is that no matter what, your child has rights. Every juvenile will be provided the following rights according to the legal justice system:
The right to an attorney – The juvenile must be offered an opportunity to get a family law attorney and as an adult offender, if the juvenile would like an attorney but cannot afford one, one will be appointed by the court.
The right to a hearing within 24 hours – The juvenile code requires a preliminary hearing within 24 hours. This hearing will determine whether the juvenile will be held in custody or not pending trial.
The right to be notified – No juvenile can be held without knowledge of the alleged crime.
The right to trial by judge or jury – If the juvenile does not request a trial by judge or jury, the case may be assigned to a referee.
The right to a hearing by judge – The juvenile has the right to a hearing before a judge and a review of the referee’s recommendations. The parents must be informed of any costs which they will be responsible for.
In delinquency proceedings, the juvenile has rights including:
- The right to hear the charges
- The right to an explanation of the proceedings
- Be informed of self incrimination
- The right to deny or defend against the charges
Cases which are handled by the Family Division of the 46 th Circuit Trial Court of Crawford County include:
Status offenses – Cases involving minors who fail to attend school, run away from home or repeatedly disobey parents.
Juvenile delinquency – Cases which involve acts committed by juveniles which if were committed by adults would be considered crimes. This also includes certain traffic violations.
Child protective proceedings – Cases which involve children under 18 who are neglected or abused. The Family Division act on behalf of the minor child. Cases involving child protective proceedings may involve the child being placed in foster care until a resolution is reached.
If you are facing issues relating to your juvenile under the age of 17 and are in need of a family law attorney in Grayling Michigan , contact Harris Law at 1.231.347.4444 or 1.989.731.4444 or online here for your free consultation. Your child has rights; let Harris Law protect them.