January 2022

Our Austin criminal defense attorneys explain some of the facts surrounding juvenile crimes and common causes that can put young people at risk.

Young people can find themselves facing potentially serious criminal charges for a variety of reasons. Perhaps they made a momentary error in judgment, got caught up in the wrong crowd, or were in the wrong place at the wrong time. In any of these cases, they could still end up being convicted and facing penalties that include heavy fines, mandatory community service, and removal from the home and placement in a juvenile detention facility. At Granger and Mueller, P.C., we have over 25 years experience handling these cases. Our Austin criminal defense attorneys explain some of the facts about juvenile offenders and common causes that put young people at risk.

Facts About Juvenile Crime

According to the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), more than two million young people are charged with criminal offenses each year. Among the most common types of crimes they commit include:

• Drug offenses, which includes selling or being in possession of illegal drugs or prescription medications.
• Alcohol-related offenses, such as underage drinking, public intoxication, and drinking and driving.
• Property crimes, such as petty theft and vandalism.
• Crimes against public order, such as loitering and disturbing the peace.

In cases of first time offenders and non-violent crimes, juveniles may be offered pretrial intervention. This requires them to make financial restitution, perform community services, and attend drug and alcohol or other classes. It gives them a second chance and helps to avoid more serious criminal penalties, such as incarceration in a juvenile detention facility.

What Causes Juvenile Delinquency? 

Young people offer all types of excuses for committing crimes, but there are often other factors involved that they are reluctant to admit. Youth.gov guides individuals, groups, and communities in creating youth programs. They explain that problems at home, in the community, or with the young person’s physical or mental health are all common causes of juvenile delinquency. This includes:

• Issues such as Attention Deficit Disorder, mild autism, and prior head injuries, which can impact judgment and critical thinking skills;
• A history of depression and low self-esteem;
• Being from a large family, where they may not get the attention they need;
• Problems between parents, such as constant fighting and a contentious divorce;
• Domestic violence, impacting them or other family members;
• Neglect, in which they lack supervision or appropriate care;
• Dealing with a major loss, such as the death of a parent, grandparent, sibling, or close friend;
• Living in an impoverished area, impacting access to education and recreational activities;
• Hanging out with the wrong crowd, which may include gang involvement.

Juvenile Offenders Need a Strong Criminal Defense

Juvenile offenses are a serious matter and require a strong legal defense. To find out how to help a young person who has been charged with a crime or what to expect from the juvenile justice system, contact our Austin criminal defense attorneys at Granger and Mueller, P.C.

Here are following measures to prevent and avoid mistreatment of old people or you can reach out to firms like barr & young attorneys for instance to help you:

What Can Be Done?

Promote Awareness Campaigns On The Value Of The Elderly

– On the basis that people are valuable regardless of their age and status. The experience and wisdom gained by age are positive points and must be considered.

– Promote participation in social, leisure, and cultural activities.

Promote The Participation Of Older People In Society

– From the different communities, town councils, or councils, launch programs that promote activities aimed at older people to share their experiences. An old man who does not share his experiences is because nobody asks him about his life, which leads to depression and dying before their time. After all, they feel useless.

Stigmatizing Language Is Removed.

– Avoiding expressions such as ” Passive class, “Assisted, “Sick of. ” Their contributions, in many cases, allow the support of today’s society.

Encourage Social Relationships

Avoiding social isolation is one of the main problems of the elderly population regardless of whether they live in their own home or a more institutionalized environment such as a nursing home or foster home.

Promote Specific Services For Elder Abuse

– Services similar to 016 or the Gender Violence law ensure and protect the elderly population who are victims of physical, psychological, or economic abuse. Avoid in this way taking advantage of the elderly.

Promote Proper Care

– Specific training in the good treatment of the elderly, care focused on the person, in their life history in their aspects such as food, clothing, hygiene or other personal aspects. Own and individual elections and with your participation.

Promote Good Environmental Design

– Achieving healthy, accessible, comfortable, safe, and meaningful environments; manifested in different ways such as safe electrical installations, fine furniture, rooms with the right temperature, cozy and clean house, sufficient lighting, elimination of architectural barriers.

Take Care Of The Caregiver

– Launching awareness campaigns towards people who (whether within or outside the family environment or in a professional, family, or voluntary way) take care of these people, providing them with psychological support services to alleviate the feeling of overload that appears as a result of the stress of caregiving.

Promote Good Treatment In The Media

– Avoiding the stigmatization of the elderly, the images that generate and enhance the clichés and stereotypes, so that simple things such as the elderly who do entirely normal things such as dancing, sightseeing, getting married, or finishing a university degree are no longer news. It was a near-impossible achievement.

Promote Psychological Care Services For The Elderly

– So that they can work on their emotions, their feelings, their desires, their desires, project their future, facilitate their decision-making, their personal and affective development, in short, to continue being what each of us is from the same moment of being born and until the last day of our life, that of our death. The right to be considered and treated as a person in every one of its facets. You can check out firms like barr & young attorneys for instance to help you in case of any abuse.