Kids often get into trouble, whether at home, school, or in the streets. However, if your child is being charged with a crime in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, they may be adjudicated as a delinquent minor.
The consequences of being adjudicated delinquent can seriously derail a child’s life. However, good legal assistance can help get them back on the right path in life. Talk to a Tahlequah attorney right away.
Defining A Delinquent Minor
Oklahoma defines a delinquent minor as one who has violated a court order or a state, federal or local law — excluding traffic laws.
Note, though, that a child might be deemed a delinquent minor if they habitually break traffic laws.
Juvenile Proceedings
Juveniles are usually not tried in criminal courts, but rather adjudicative hearings. At these hearings, the court will determine whether the juvenile should be “adjudicated as delinquent,” as opposed to “guilty” of a crime.
The court will then determine the best course of action to ensure the minor receives the help they need. This may include probation, placement in community residential treatment, behavioral reformation camps, or juvenile detention.
The court may also order drug treatment, counseling, parental intervention services, educational services, and other appropriate treatment.
Juvenile Centers
Juveniles who must be detained are usually held in the in either the Central Oklahoma Juvenile Center (COJC) or Southwest Oklahoma Juvenile Center (SOJC), which are separate facilities away from adults.
However, teenagers who commit very serious crimes can be tried as adults and contained in adult prisons.
Low-cost Initial Consultation: Tahlequah Child Delinquency Lawyer
Being adjudicated as a delinquent minor can interrupt a child’s life through removal from their home, school, or community for weeks at a time. An attorney can help ensure that they receive the most appropriate outcome possible under the circumstances.
If you or someone you know is faced with this charge, contact a Tahlequah criminal defense lawyer to discuss your available legal options.
For a low-cost consultation, call Wirth Law Office – Tahlequah at 918-458-2677 or toll free at 1-888-447-7262.
Or, if you prefer e-mail, you may enter a legal question in the form at the top right of this page and we’ll contact you by e-mail as soon as possible.
