This week we are going to be discussing juvenile crimes in the state of Wisconsin. Today, we will start with an overview of juvenile law in the state, including what happens to juveniles who are charged with crimes in Wisconsin.
When children under the age of 17 are accused of committing crimes in Wisconsin they are not charged the same way was adults are. Instead, they face juvenile delinquency charges or are charged with committing a delinquent act.
Even though these charges are treated differently under the law than adult-committed crimes they can still have very serious consequences. A conviction of juvenile delinquency can put a teenager’s entire future at risk no matter how minor the crime may seem.
Even a simple battery where no one is hurt or a drug possession crime can prevent a teen from qualifying for federal financial assistance for college. Additionally, parents can be forced to pay damages as high as $10,000 for delinquent acts committed by a minor child.
But the good news is that a juvenile does not have to automatically plead guilty to juvenile delinquency charges. With the help of an experienced defense attorney, first-time offenders can seek a deferred prosecution agreement, which result in the juvenile not being charged with a crime.
A deferred prosecution agreement Instead results in the juvenile being placed on informal probation, and once the informal probation is completed, the case is closed. There are options available for juveniles who are not first-time offenders as well such as expungement.
Our next post will discuss the changes that could be coming to state and federal laws on juvenile incarceration during the current legislative session.