Do all juvenile crimes require a court hearing?

No, not all juvenile crimes require a court hearing. In California, certain minor offenses, including simple disobedience or running away from home, may not require a court hearing. Juveniles who commit more serious crimes, such as burglary or assault, must appear in court and may be charged and tried as an adult. When deciding if a juvenile will be tried as an adult or in juvenile court, California law requires that the court consider the severity of the offense, the juvenile’s age, and the juvenile’s criminal record, if any. When weighing these factors, the judge will decide if the juvenile should be tried in juvenile court, or be transferred to adult criminal court. The state of California also has a program called diversion, which allows juvenile offenders to avoid being formally charged and instead, complete a program that includes counseling and education. These programs are meant to help juveniles address the root causes of their behavior, while still holding them accountable for their actions. It’s important to note that in California, all juvenile court hearings are confidential, and the information is not available to the public. While this helps to protect the juvenile’s future opportunities, it also makes it difficult for the public to know if a juvenile appeared in court for a certain crime.

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Do all juvenile crimes require a court hearing?

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