Like adults, kids can commit crimes – and sometimes they’re fairly serious. However, the vast majority of crimes that juveniles commit are “kid stuff.” But even then, those crimes can come with serious consequences that can follow a child well into adulthood.
What Are the Most Common Juvenile Crimes?
Across the board, the most common juvenile crimes include things like:
- Vandalism
- Shoplifting
- Simple assault
- Underage drinking
- Joyriding
While most of these don’t sound terribly serious to us, as adults, the consequences can be really rough on kids’ futures. The problem is that although the juvenile justice system tries to focus on rehabilitating kids, some are still tried as adults – and they face adult penalties.
What Happens When Kids Are Tried as Juveniles?
Because the juvenile justice system tries to be more about intervention than about punishment, it’s common for judges to sentence kids to things like community service, educational courses and rehabilitation. These are generally used instead of jail or juvenile detention. However, some offenses – particularly the more serious ones – do sometimes result in confinement.
What if Kids Are Tried as Adults in Wisconsin?
Sometimes kids’ cases are transferred to an adult court. In that case, the accused minor faces the same penalties as an adult would in that situation. If the child is convicted, he or she will have an adult criminal record – and that can seriously limit his or her future opportunities in education and employment.
Has Your Child Been Accused of a Crime?
If your child has been accused of a crime, you have the right to retain an attorney. Call us right away so we can help. We’ll be happy to answer your questions, talk to you about what could happen to your child, and help your family get the best possible outcome.
