Juvenile Offenses
Juvenile Delinquency and CHINS (Child in Need of Services) petitions are serious matters that may have long-term consequences, including placement outside of the home or at juvenile detention center. At Samdperil & Welsh, we have experience in representing New Hampshire juveniles in both of these matters.
New Hampshire and Juvenile Crimes
In New Hampshire, juveniles charged with committing crimes are prosecuted in either the local district court or the regional family court. The juvenile delinquency statutes apply only to persons under the age of 17. Persons 17 years or older are prosecuted as adults.
In most cases, if the petition is found to be true, the juvenile is placed on conditional release (probation), given community service, or ordered to pay a fine or make restitution. The court may also order counseling or involve the local school system.
How the State Treats Serious Cases
In more serious cases or cases where the juvenile repeatedly violates the law, the court may place the juvenile out of the home in a shelter, group home, or the state's detention facility, the Youth Development Center (YDC).
In the most serious cases, the prosecutor may try to have a juvenile certified as an adult and transfer the case to the superior court for prosecution.
Juveniles in NH Courts
Juvenile court proceedings are closed proceedings, meaning that they are not open to the public and members of the public cannot review juvenile court files. In certain types of cases, the media may obtain limited information about a juvenile case.
Juvenile Records
Many people think that once a juvenile becomes an adult, the juvenile's record is erased or expunged. This is not correct. When a juvenile turns 17, court records remain inaccessible to the public. However, those records are still available to the courts, police, and certain other government agencies.
Proteting Your Child's Rights
If you have other questions about a Delinquency or CHINS case, call us. We have been representing juveniles in New Hampshire courts for over a decade. We offer realistic and practical advice, and we will vigorously protect your child's rights.