When a young person is charged with a violent crime, the stakes couldn’t be higher. A single charge can threaten a child’s education, freedom, and future before their life has truly begun. As a parent or guardian, you’re likely frightened, confused, and unsure of what comes next. You need an attorney who understands the juvenile justice system and who will fight to protect your child’s future at every step.​

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How the Juvenile System Handles Violent Crimes

Texas handles juvenile cases differently than adult criminal cases, but that doesn’t mean the consequences are minor. Juveniles charged with violent offenses may face:​

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• Detention in a juvenile facility
• Probation with strict conditions
• Placement in a residential treatment program
• Transfer to adult court to be tried as an adult (“certification as an adult”) for the most serious offenses
• A Determinate Sentence that can follow them into adulthood
• Commitment to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD)

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The juvenile justice system is designed with rehabilitation in mind, but prosecutors and the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) treat violent offenses aggressively. Without strong legal representation, your child’s case can move quickly in the wrong direction.

What Counts as a Violent Crime for Juveniles?
 

Violent crime charges in the juvenile system typically involve allegations of physical harm or the threat of harm to another person. Common charges include:
 

• Simple Assault: Intentionally or recklessly causing bodily injury
• Aggravated Assault: causing serious bodily injury or using a deadly weapon
• Robbery: theft of a person involving threatening or causing bodily injury
• Aggravated Robbery: theft involving a weapon or causing serious bodily injury
• Terroristic Threat: threatening another person or group of persons (including schools) with imminent serious bodily injury
• Sexual Assault

• Murder or Manslaughter

• Capital Murder

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Each of these charges carries its own set of legal elements, potential penalties, and defense strategies. No two cases are the same, which is why individualized legal counsel is essential.

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CaN a Juvenile Be Tried as an adult?

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Yes, and this is one of the most serious risks in a juvenile violent crime case. In Texas, a juvenile can be “certified” to stand trial as an adult if they are 14 or older and charged with certain serious or violent felonies. If your child is tried as an adult in an adult Criminal District Court, they face the full range of adult criminal penalties, including incarceration in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ).

 

Fighting certification is often one of the most critical steps in defending a juvenile violent crime case. An experienced juvenile defense attorney will challenge certification aggressively and advocate to keep your child in the juvenile system, where the focus remains on rehabilitation rather than punishment.

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Can a Juvenile Conviction (Adjudication) Have Adult Conseques?

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Yes, under the Texas Determinate Sentencing Act: “state presents case to a Grand Jury as they would an adult felony, tried in juvenile court, can be sentenced to a fixed number of years, jury can impose punishment, disposition of case can be transferred to the adult system, final conviction/permanent record/cannot seal record”

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What should you do if your child has been arrested?

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Time matters. Here's what you should do immediately:

1. Stay calm and do NOT panic. You and your child need you to think clearly.

2. Do not let your child speak to police without an attorney present. Anything they say can and will be used against them.

3. Do not assume the charge will “go away.” Even first-time offenders can face serious consequences for violent crime allegations.

4. Contact a juvenile defense attorney immediately.

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The earlier an attorney is involved, the more advantages and opportunity you have to protect your child.

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How Jerry Michael Acosta Law defends Juvenile Violent Crime cases

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Every case begins with a thorough, independent investigation. We examine the evidence, interview witnesses, review law enforcement reports, and identify weaknesses in the prosecution’s case. Depending on the facts, defense strategies may include:

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• Challenging the credibility or reliability of witnesses
• Questioning whether your child’s actions meet the legal definition of the offense
• Presenting evidence of self-defense or defense of others (and all other legal defenses)
• Arguing against certification to adult court
• Negotiating for diversion programs, counseling, or probation in lieu of detention
• Seeking expunction or sealing of records after the case concludes

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Our goal is always to achieve the best possible outcome, ideally one that keeps your child out of detention, in school, and on a path to a productive future.

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Protecting Your Child’s Record
 

A juvenile record doesn’t have to follow your child forever. In many cases, juvenile records can be sealed or expunged, giving your child a clean slate when they become an adult. We work not just to resolve the immediate charge, but to protect your child’s long-term future, including their ability to apply to college, obtain employment, and live without the shadow of a juvenile adjudication.

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If your child has been charged with a violent crime, don’t wait. Contact our office today for a confidential consultation. We’re here to listen, answer your questions, and start building a defense immediately.