Juvenile Cases

Juvenile court, and the cases that leave it

Most people are searching for a hearing in juvenile court: a detention hearing, an adjudicatory hearing, or a disposition. The other search is the one families fear, a charge filed in adult court or a petition to move it there. In Pennsylvania that search often uses the words “charged as an adult” and “decertification.”

Say the child’s age, the county, whether the case is still in juvenile court, and the next date. A school incident, a stolen car, and a gun charge are not referred the same way.

Records people ask about later

“Does a juvenile case show up” and “expunge a juvenile record” are the follow-up searches. Eligibility depends on the outcome and the child’s age. Send the outcome if the case is already over.

Nothing on this page is a prediction of what a case is worth, and it is not legal advice. A message asks the desk to review the facts and refer them.

What to send

Charges against a minor. Say the county, whether the case is still in juvenile court, and the next date.

The useful first facts are the place, the date, the court if there is one, and what happened. Records can wait until a lawyer asks for them.

How a referral works

A message asks the desk to read the facts and refer them to a lawyer who handles this work. It does not hire that lawyer, and it does not create an attorney-client relationship.

The lawyer who receives the introduction decides whether to take the matter and talks with you about deadlines and fees.

Related criminal cases

• Criminal Defense — Charges, investigations, and court dates
• DUI — License, stop, and first court date
• Drug Charges — Possession, delivery, and intent
• Gun Charges — Firearms charges and VUFA
• Assault Charges — Simple assault, aggravated assault, and threats
• Theft and Robbery — Retail theft, burglary, and robbery
• Probation Violations — Detainers and violation hearings
• Expungement — Clearing a record after a case ends
• Federal Charges — Federal court, not the county courthouse