Juvenile Law

In the 1940s, Texas recognized that juvenile proceedings are different than adult proceedings. A stated purpose of the juvenile system was to “remove the taint of criminality and provide for the protection and wholesome moral and mental development of children.” Two key components of removing the taint of criminality, are the confidentiality of juvenile proceedings and the ability of juveniles

It is spring and college admission letters are showing up in mailboxes all over the country. This made me think of the one of the most frequent questions I am asked by the parents of juveniles in trouble: “Will this be part of a permanent record?” The answer is always a firm, “Maybe.” Ordinarily, the records and hearings that make

Why now? is the question that immediately springs to mind as the Dallas City Council considers residence restrictions for sex offenders. The laws providing for a sex offender registry passed in 1991 and for child safety zones in 1995. These laws apply to both adults and juveniles. In the last 20 years, no study has shown either to be effective

As in any civil or family matter, a juvenile case begins with the filing of a petition. There is no grand jury involvement. No matter what the charge in a juvenile case – even serious felony offenses – the case begins with the prosecutor’s decision to file a petition. That does not mean there is no role for the grand

In 2014, a Tarrant County intoxication manslaughter case sparked an intense debate about juvenile crime and punishment. While the pundits all had opinions, most were too busy talking to be bothered with actual facts or the law. So before we declare the juvenile system broken, let’s examine the facts and then form an opinion. A juvenile felony offense (committed by