Juvenile Crime in Idaho

In every state, there is a court established to deal with juvenile or minor legal issues. The jurisdiction of the court varies widely, from truancy to serious juvenile crime. Accompanying the juvenile court system is a juvenile holding facility, similar to an adult jail, and a juvenile hall where repeat and violent offenders are kept, similar to an adult prison. The juvenile court system deals with minors under 18, but rarely are their offenders younger than 8.

The Idaho Code enumerates the statutory laws of Idaho. There are laws regarding individuals, businesses, domestic relations, roadways, pharmacists, and crimes, just to name a few. The criminal section of the Idaho Code has laws that pertain to adults as well as minors. Often, a crime will be enumerated and then there will be a section that deals specifically with minors. Minor DUI or minor possession are examples of this. They often have different consequences than adult crime. Even if the penalty is not different for an adult instead of a minor, often the juvenile court will deal with the minor more leniently.

Just as in adult crime before a minor is sentenced they will have a presentencing evaluation and they will have the opportunity to go over that with their criminal lawyer. Boise Criminal Lawyers review in depth what the evaluation has to say with their clients. Also, Boise Criminal Attorneys will educate their clients on how to behave in court, to make a good impression on the judge and to show the judge that they are taking all of the proceedings seriously. Particularly if it is a first offense, a juvenile will be dealt with in a fairly lenient fashion. This has primarily to do with the fact that the juvenile judges recognize that we all make mistakes. The judge, however, will set up a safety net to ensure that if the juvenile becomes a repeat offender then the hammers will come down upon them.

Once a minor turns 18 they are removed from the juvenile system. There record is sealed and in effect they have a clean slate.