Harris County Criminal Attorneys | Houston TX Defense Lawyers: Juvenile Defense Attorneys

Sunday, March 15, 2015

Houston Juvenile Defense Attorneys Andy Nolen and Associates: 3000+ Cases of Experience

Houston Juvenile Defense Attorneys

Houston Juvenile Defense Attorneys Andy Nolen and Associates have practiced Juvenile Defense for more than 20 years. He has represented over 3000 men women and children in the course of that time and had over 400 cases dismissed. That practical experience has taught him a great quantity of very important information and facts regarding Juvenile Defense. Among those are:

5 Points You Will want to Be aware of Regarding Juvenile Law Cases:

1. A girl or boy is not regarded as a defendant but is a respondent. The character of the court proceeding is civil and not criminal. While a boy or girl is charged with a criminal offense, he or she is never found guilty but may possibly be found to be in need of rehabilitation.

2. A child charged with a really serious offense may be placed in a Juvenile Detention Facility. A juvenile does not have a bond set and thus simply cannot post a bond and be discharged. A juvenile has the right to a detention hearing each and every 10 days and will be able to request discharge at that hearing. A household member will have to be available to take legal care of the child and have a program for oversight and be able to assure the child will show up in the courtroom.

3. If the offense is really serious enough, a child may be certified as an adult. If the child is certified as an adult, the court case is relocated to the adult courtroom system. At that phase, a bond is set and the child may bond out. You have the right to contest Certification as an Adult at a hearing. Houston Juvenile Defense Attorney Andy Nolen has with success opposed certification of juveniles at hearings and won.

4. A child can't be sentenced to jail or prison except in cases where certified as an adult. Nonetheless, a child can be place in the custodianship of the probation dept and transferred to a juvenile facility. Certain criminal acts provide for a child to be put in the Texas Youth Commission (TYC).

5. Juvenile cases are distinct than adult cases. The laws employed are different, the judges are different and their are particular prosecutors. It is critical to find a law firm with juvenile court experience.Houston Juvenile Defense Attorney Andy Nolen has more than 22 Years working experience defending juveniles.

If your son, daughter, or child in your personal life has been charged with a juvenile criminal offense, be sure to call Houston Juvenile Defense Attorney Andy Nolen at 832-480-8951 for a free of charge consultation.

Monday, June 3, 2013

What Will Happen When My Child Goes to Juvenile Court?

What Will Happen When My Child Goes to Juvenile Court?

The "arraignment" is the term of art used for your child's first court setting. Your child's juvenile defense attorney uses this setting to gather information about your child's case and about the strength of the District Attorney's case by reviewing their file. Defense attorneys are able to read over the police report and other evidence regarding your child's case because the District Attorney in Harris County has an open file policy. In addition, at this setting, in an effort to avoid a trial and to free up the court's docket, the Assistant District Attorney may offer a plea bargain in your child's case.

If it is ready, your defense attorney will also be able to read over the probation report on your child's case at this setting. Most likely, the probation officer has already called you and your child's school to gather information about your child's performance and behavior at home and at school. As the information will be relied upon by the prosecutor for plea bargaining purposes and by the court for disposition or punishment purposes, it is critical that the information in this report is true and accurate.

Sometimes, at the conclusion of this first setting, your child's case may be reset to a date further down the road. In order for your juvenile defense lawyer to interview witnesses, gather more information and to test the State's case and evidence, it may be necessary to reset your child's court date. Your juvenile defense attorney will be able to let you know whether or not your should reset your child's case. The attorneys at Andy Nolen & Associates work hard to finish your child's case with as few court settings as possible while at the same time protecting your child's rights.