As the leading felony lawyer in Las Vegas, our law office is committed to providing every client with an aggressive and vigorous defense, no matter what the situation may be. Continue reading for information about the rights of juvenile defendants in the State of Nevada.
Juveniles and the Right of Attorney in Las Vegas, Nevada
Every juvenile (age 10 to 17) in the State of Nevada has a right to a juvenile defense attorney during the proceedings, whether they’re being charged with delinquency or another offense. The court will provide a public defender to a minor who cannot afford private counsel.
How Do Charges Against Juveniles Work in Nevada?
In lieu of being brought up on criminal charges, minors in the state of Nevada are always either charged as “delinquent” or as “being in need of supervision.”
- A juvenile delinquent is defined as a minor who has violated a law of the United States prior to his or her 18th birthday, and which would have been a crime if committed by an adult. Further, a person over 18 but under 21 years of age is also accorded juvenile treatment if the legal violation occurred prior to his or her 18th birthday.
- In contrast, a minor who is defined as “in need of supervision” is not necessarily regarded as delinquent, and is considered to be in a separate category. Examples of minors in need of supervision are those who are frequently truant from school consistently disobey reasonable demands from their parents or guardians, have run away from home and require care or rehabilitation, or have violated locals statutes concerning loitering, substance use, or curfew for minors.
Can Juveniles Be Tried as Adults in Nevada?
Nevada prosecutors can request that a juvenile offender be tried as an adult under the following conditions:
- The crime with which they are charged is equivalent to what would be a felony if committed by an adult.
- If he or she is age 14 or older at the time of the alleged offense.
If such a request is made by the prosecutor, a certification proceeding will take place at which the prosecutor must establish probable cause. If probable cause is established, the case will go under further review to determine whether it merits placement in an adult criminal court.
If you are currently seeking a violent crime attorney in Las Vegas, call our law offices today at 702-706-0076.
