JUVENILE CRIME

JMA is a highly-rated Texas Juvenile Law firm that has helped thousands of families in Houston and across the State of Texas who have had to traverse the Texas Juvenile Justice System.

If you’ve been in a similar situation, the laws surrounding the Texas Juvenile Justice System can be complex, but founding attorney Jerry Michael Acosta, a proven trial lawyer, can confidently guide you through the legal process ahead.

In a Juvenile Delinquency case, a child is charged by petition by the State of Texas through the District or County Attorney in a Juvenile Court for engaging in delinquent conduct alleged to occur while the Juvenile was between the ages of 10 and 16.

Delinquent conduct is the same conduct that would constitute as a misdemeanor or a felony in an adult criminal court. If the alleged criminal conduct occurs after 17 years of age, the person accused is an adult under Texas Criminal Law.

UNDER THE FOLLOWING CIRUCUMSTANCES, YOU NEED TO CONTACT TEXAS JUVENILE LAWYER, JERRY MICHAEL ACOSTA

• A Juvenile Investigation – before a case is filed, law enforcement contacts the juvenile to investigate whether to file a juvenile case against the juvenile.

• An Indeterminate Petition – the juvenile case is filed and handled in the Juvenile Court and if adjudicated (found guilty), the juvenile is punished in the juvenile system.

• A Determinate Petition – the juvenile case is filed in Juvenile Court and guilt/innocence is determined in the Juvenile Court. If adjudicated (found guilty) the juvenile begins punishment in the juvenile system. Before the juvenile’s 19th birthday, the punishment can be transferred to the adult criminal system in a Determinate Transfer Hearing.

• A Certification Hearing – after a petition is filed, the State of Texas may file a Motion to Waive Jurisdiction if certain factors are met. If the Juvenile Judge grants the State’s petition, the Juvenile case will be transferred to an Adult Criminal District Court where a Juvenile will face adult criminal consequences.

• A Post-18 Certification Hearing – The State of Texas files a petition in Juvenile Court requesting to transfer the case to a Criminal District Adult Court after the Juvenile’s 18th birthday for conduct alleged to have happened before the Juvenile’s 17th birthday.

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After that, Judges, District Attorney’s, Juvenile Probation Departments, witnesses, law enforcement, and alleged victims will complicate things. The stress involved in dealing with a Juvenile Delinquency Case with all of these parties – each with their own interests at heart – can cause confusion, anger, and hopelessness. That’s when Texas Juvenile Lawyer Jerry Michael Acosta will help protect the juvenile’s interest, record, and freedom!

Jerry Michael Acosta is experienced in: