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Juvenile Crimes

Bergen County Attorney for Juvenile Crimes

When an adult is charged with a criminal offense, they typically understand the importance of the situation and contact a criminal defense attorney. However, when a juvenile is arrested, parents often decide not to retain an attorney. Perhaps parents make this decision because they feel the potential consequences do not warrant the time or money required to retain an attorney.

However, juvenile crimes carry the potential for serious and lasting consequences to a child. In addition to the fact that colleges may ask for information about juvenile offenses, certain juvenile offenses may be considered by the courts in making sentencing decisions if a juvenile is later charged with a crime as an adult. Juvenile crimes that involve a sex offense can lead to registration as a sex offender. A DWI can affect a teenager's right to drive. Serious juvenile crimes can even lead to a protracted period of detention in a facility for juvenile offenders.

Protect Your Child: Retain a Juvenile Defense Attorney

If your child has been accused of committing a juvenile crime, do not take their charges lightly. Have your child's case handled properly by an experienced criminal defense attorney familiar with New Jersey criminal laws and procedures.

At Law Offices of Joseph R. Donahue, LLC, we provide a vigorous defense against all juvenile crime charges, including:

Our attorney has handled hundreds of criminal law cases, including numerous juvenile crimes cases throughout the state of New Jersey.

FAQ about Juvenile Crimes in New Jersey

Question: Will My Child Go to Jail?

Answer: Rather than being sent to jail after being arrested, juvenile offenders are sent to either Juvenile Detention Centers or Youth Detention Centers in the county they live in. Keep in mind, the juvenile system is designed to rehabilitate the child, rather than punish them.

Q: Will My Child Face Criminal Charges in Adult Court?

A: A child under 18 years of age—and over 14 years old—can be tried as an adult if he/she commits a serious criminal offense, such as homicide, robbery, sexual assault, kidnapping, and aggravated arson. If convicted in adult court, they can serve the same criminal penalties as adults.

Q: Can a Juvenile Record Be Sealed or Expunged?

A; A juvenile record can be expunged after two years since the final discharge from custody, supervision, or another court order, and the juvenile has demonstrated good behavior and hasn’t been convicted of another crime since. An expungement order will prohibit the child’s juvenile record for being seen by the public.

Contact Our Juvenile Crime Attorney

To schedule a free consultation at our law office, call (201) 574-7919 or contact us by e-mail.


We focus on the courts of Northern and Central New Jersey, including the Federal courts in Newark and Trenton and the State and Municipal courts of Bergen County, Essex County, Passaic County, Hudson County, Union County, Morris County, Middlesex County, Hackensack, Paterson, Passaic, Jersey City, Newark, Elizabeth, Morristown, Union City, Allendale, Alpine, Bergenfield, Bogota, Carlstadt, Cliffside Park, Closter, Cresskill, Demarest, Dumont, East Rutherford, Edgewater, Elmwood Park, Emerson, Englewood, Englewood Cliffs, Fair Lawn, Fairview, Fort Lee, Franklin Lakes, Garfield, Glen Rock, Hackensack, Harrington Park, Hasbrouck Heights, Haworth, Hillsdale, Ho-Ho-Kus, Leonia, Little Ferry, Lodi, Lyndhurst, Mahwah, Maywood, Midland Park, Montvale, Moonachie, New Milford, North Arlington, Northvale, Norwood, Oakland, Old Tappan, Oradell, Palisades Park, Paramus, Park Ridge, Ramsey, Ridgefield, Ridgefield Park, Ridgewood, River Edge, River Vale, Rochelle Park, Rockleigh, Rutherford, Saddle Brook, Saddle River, South Hackensack, Teaneck, Tenafly, Teterboro, Upper Saddle River, Waldwick, Wallington, Washington Township, Westwood, Woodcliff Lake, Wood-Ridge, and Wyckoff.

Hear From Our Happy Clients

Reviews & Testimonials

At Law Offices of Joseph R. Donahue, LLC, your satisfaction is our priority! See for yourself what our clients have to say about working with us.

    "The best lawyer I could have ever asked for"

    The best attorney I have ever met in my life. I was facing four felony gun charges and ended up paying a $100 fine with a ...

    - Patrick
    "An outstanding lawyer who I will always recommend to my family and friends."

    He handled my case effectively. An outstanding lawyer who I will always recommend to my family and friends. He displays a lot ...

    - Recent Client
    "TRUST me and go to him if you need anything, he won't let you down"

    My experience was beyond amazing. I always thought going through the court process and finding a lawyer would be the hardest ...

    - Recent Client
    ""the superior court judge issued a written order reversing the municipal court's guilty decision""

    Our son was arrested and charged with DUI in early December of 2015. We got a lawyer who helped us gather evidence (arrest ...

    - Anonymous Client
    "You and your staff were exemplary in your efforts and performance."

    Dear Joseph: I wish to thank you and the staff for all of your efforts, professional knowledge and timeliness in performing ...

    - Criminal Client
    "Outstanding Legal Professional"

    As a Case Management Consultant, I have referred a number of clients to Mr. Donahue over the years. He is an outstanding ...

    - Advocacy Support Network LLC
    "restored my faith in lawyers"

    Mr. Donahue defended me in DWI,it would have been my 3rd.I would have lost DL for ten years and 180 days in jail. I would ...

    - Ken
    "Outstanding Litigator"

    I am a legal consultant who works with many of the top criminal defense lawyers primarily in Northern and Central New Jersey. ...

    - Client
Our Trial-Tested Approach

We always strive to put our clients in the best position possible, so our immediate goal is to obtain a case dismissal or acquittal. If this cannot be done, we seek to minimize the consequences by all legal means possible, perhaps by pursuing a plea agreement, which could include alternate sentencing that improves the impact on our client’s record. Our Bergen County criminal defense attorney is a resolute advocate who never hesitates to take a case to trial if it is in the best interests of our client. No matter how complex your charges may be, we have the proven expertise and passion to help you achieve a positive outcome. Discover how we can help you today.