Defense Lawyer For Minor Felonies

Get the legal representation that you deserve from a multi-generational law firm with over 40 years of experience defending the rights of the accused.

Get Help Now

Over 40 Years of Experience

Multi-Generational Practice

Simplified Online Billing and Payment Plans

Superior Legal Representation

Get The Help That You Need

In 2020, over 25,700 juveniles were arrested in California. This statistic highlights the vast number of kids at risk of receiving lifelong consequences for their hasty decisions each year.

Kids make mistakes. And sometimes, law enforcement officers assume that juveniles have committed crimes simply due to their proximity to a crime scene. However, too often, minors do not have access to a quality defense, making them more likely to land in juvenile detention or prison before turning 18.

At the Law Offices of Tabone, we believe that every juvenile charged with a criminal offense needs access to a qualified, dedicated defense attorney. We’re committed to putting our best efforts into defending our juvenile clients and effectively guiding them through the juvenile justice system.

If you or your loved one is facing juvenile charges, contact our criminal defense attorney for minor felonies today at 818-785-5000 to schedule your consultation.

Client Reviews

"Emerson,
Was great to work with and handled our difficult case to provide the best outcome for my family. He kept in touch and communicated with us during the process..."

Matt Cromwell

Client

"I had the best experience with Derek and staff. I will always refer him with family and friends.👍👍👍👍👍"

Alfred Cervantes

Client

"I highly recommend the Tabone law office. They recently represented me after a slip and fall left me with a lifelong injury. Emerson Tabone was my attorney and I could not have been in better hands..."

Julia Blackburn

Client

How Our Criminal Defense Team Can Help

When minors face criminal charges, they and their families may be unsure of the best next steps. They may make rash decisions or unknowingly act in ways that put the minors at risk of receiving harsher sentences.

However, hiring an experienced juvenile defense attorney can take the stress and confusion out of juvenile cases. At the Law Offices of Tabone, our skilled, diligent lawyers have spent years helping minors effectively navigate the juvenile court system and their criminal charges.

Our multi-generational law firm has helped many clients receive fair outcomes through their cases, and we’d be happy to provide the following services for you or your child as well:

Be your advocate and voice throughout the case
Guide you and your family through the juvenile justice system
Provide qualified legal advice and counsel during statements
Provide a strong defense during adjudication
Protect your rights under the California juvenile justice system

Contact the Law Offices of Tabone today at 818-785-5000 to schedule your consultation with a criminal defense attorney for minor felonies.

Receive Your Free Consultation

All inquiries are personally reviewed and responded to. If you have any questions about your case that you want to be sure that we address, please be sure to include them and we will contact you as soon as possible to discuss how we can help you.
Information submitted is 100% confidential

Main Contact Form

Frequently Asked Quesitons

What are some common juvenile crimes?

Juveniles can receive charges for a wide range of crimes. However, the most common juvenile charges include the following:

However, juveniles can also receive charges for more serious crimes, such as rape, murder, or kidnapping. Juveniles charged with these crimes may be charged as adults in some cases.

Do I even need a lawyer?

What is the juvenile court process?

The juvenile court process is slightly different than the process to try adults in California.

For many juveniles, the court process starts with an arrest. However, some juvenile crimes may not escalate to an arrest. Instead, a law enforcement officer may issue a warning and let them off without any charges.

Other times, an officer may issue a citation, which is a notice to appear in court at a later date. Unlike an arrest, a citation does not require a juvenile to be detained before the court date.

Finally, some juvenile cases may result in informal probation. In these cases, the minor would be a ward of the court and would be permitted to serve their probationary period at home. A judge would set the terms of the probation and may require actions such as:

Mandatory school attendance
Counseling
Curfews
Community service

After an arrest, a juvenile typically faces several hearings, as follows:

Detention hearing: A hearing to determine where the minor will be detained, such as in a juvenile detention center or at their parent’s house
Transfer hearing: A hearing to determine if the child’s case will be tried in juvenile court or transferred to adult court
Adjudication: The minor’s “trial” in front of a judge instead of a jury
Disposition hearing: The sentencing hearing, in which the judge will relay the minor’s sentence (if the judge sustained the petition against the juvenile)

Do I have to go to court?

What makes the CA juvenile justice system different?

The California Juvenile Court System has a complex set of rules and policies that set it apart from the adult criminal justice system. Understanding these complexities can help you better navigate your own juvenile case and understand why having a top-tier criminal defense attorney is essential.

No Jury Trials

California currently does not conduct jury trials for juveniles. Instead, minors face an adjudication hearing in front of a judge.

Adjudications include many of the same elements as jury trials. For example, the defense and prosecution can both present arguments on their client’s behalf. In addition, the minor can testify or choose not to testify, depending on the circumstances.

However, instead of a jury determining the minor’s guilt or innocence, a judge will review the evidence and make the final decision. If the judge finds the minor guilty, they will then determine the minor’s sentence.

No Right to Bail

In adult criminal trials, defendants have the right to bail, which means they can post a specific amount of money to secure conditional release from custody. However, minors do not have the right to bail.

There are two primary reasons minors do not have this right in California:

The court releases most minors to their parents or guardians rather than detaining them.
The court schedules the minor’s hearing as quickly as possible, typically within 30 days, unless there is good cause or the minor consents to a delay.

Rehabilitation Over Incarceration

The juvenile justice system in California states that it focuses on rehabilitation over incarceration. When determining a minor’s sentence, a judge may prioritize actions that allow the minor to learn from their mistakes and move forward down a healthy path.

However, many juveniles in California still receive harsh sentences that do not allow much room for rehabilitation. As a result, minors often feel like their futures are ruined when they face criminal charges, and some even repeat their crimes after the end of their sentences.

One of the most effective ways to receive a rehabilitation-focused sentence for yourself or your juvenile family member is to have a qualified juvenile defense attorney on your side.

Will the information I share be confidential?

If you have any additional questions, please call us at (818) 785-5000.

Defense Lawyer For Minor Felonies

Over 40 Years of Experience

Multi-Generational Practice

Simplified Online Billing and Payment Plans

Superior Legal Representation

Get The Help That You Need

Client Reviews

Matt Cromwell

Alfred Cervantes

Julia Blackburn

How Our Criminal Defense Team Can Help

Receive Your Free Consultation

Main Contact Form

Frequently Asked Quesitons

No Jury Trials

No Right to Bail

Rehabilitation Over Incarceration

Headquarters

Quick Links

Help