Juvenile Cases

Having your child be accused of committing a crime in Everett, Washington, can be extremely stressful and frightening. It will make some parents even question their own parenting skills. It is understandable that for some parents, their initial reaction is to have their children “face the music” and take their punishment. However, a punishment can take many forms so it is important to consider and protect the child’s future. An isolated incident does not necessarily have to follow a child for the rest of their life.

When a child is accused of a crime, the government can proceed in a variety of different directions. Depending on the circumstances, the case could be filed in an adult district, superior, or municipal court. The government could also choose to file the case in a juvenile court. Despite claims to the contrary, adult courts are typically more associated with punishment as opposed to rehabilitation. Juvenile courts, on the other hand, are more focused on treatment and rehabilitation. In some instances, community diversion programs are also available for youths. In these types of proceedings, the child and parent(s) are given the chance to speak to a community panel about the accusations and the way all parties intend to move forward to make sure something similar does not occur again.