In juvenile crimes, when a juvenile is accused of a crime, it can impact their future significantly. Our firm specializes in juvenile defense, ensuring the best possible outcome for young offenders.

985.0301 Jurisdiction.—

(1) The circuit court has exclusive original jurisdiction of proceedings in which a child is alleged to have committed:

(a) A delinquent act or violation of law.

(b) A noncriminal violation that has been assigned to juvenile court by law.

(2) The jurisdiction of the court shall attach to the child and the case when the summons is served upon the child and a parent or legal or actual custodian or guardian of the child, or when the child is taken into custody with or without service of summons and before or after the filing of a petition, whichever first occurs, and thereafter the court may control the child and the case in accordance with this chapter.

(3) During the prosecution of any violation of law against any person who has been presumed to be an adult, if it is shown that the person was a child at the time the offense was committed and that the person does not meet the criteria for prosecution and sentencing as an adult, the court shall immediately transfer the case, together with the physical custody of the person and all physical evidence, papers, documents, and testimony, original and duplicate, connected therewith, to the appropriate court for proceedings under this chapter. The circuit court is exclusively authorized to assume jurisdiction over any juvenile offender who is arrested and charged with violating a federal law or a law of the District of Columbia, who is found or is living or domiciled in a county in which the circuit court is established, and who is surrendered to the circuit court as provided in 18 U.S.C. s. 5001.