Juvenile Law

Lucy S. McAllister Criminal Law
San Jose, San Francisco and Bay Area Criminal Defense Attorney

Juvenile Justice • House Arrest • Sex Crimes • Underage Drinking • In Defense of the Right to a Fair Hearing

At the Law offices of Lucy S. McAllister Inc., in San Francisco, San Jose, and the Bay Area of California, it is our goal is to vigorously, aggressively yet compassionately defend Californians who have been charged or accused of criminal offenses.  We maintain a special interest in the defense of juvenile cases and representing kids, parents, and others accused of crimes involving kids. Getting off to the best start possible for a young person is so important these days.

Juvenile rights are different from adult rights. Juveniles do not have a right to a jury trial; they do not generally have a right to a public proceeding. They are entitled to full notice of all charges against them, the right to a fair trial with a judge, and the right to confront hostile witnesses.

Since the juvenile justice system is different from the adult system, it is important to have a lawyer who is familiar with the juvenile system. You need a Bay Area defense lawyer that can keep your child out of the juvenile system. I am intimately familiar with all of the Bay area court systems and with juvenile justice. I  can often have your child released into your custody on informal supervision, electronic monitoring, house arrest, or other programs that allow them to continue at school. Let us go with you to the first probation meeting before your child goes to Court….negotiating with probation before the Court action starts can change everything!

After an arrest or citation the child and his/her parents will be scheduled to meet with a juvenile probation officer. This is a critical stage in a juvenile proceeding and I should be there with you and your son or daughter.

It used to be that children were kept in the juvenile justice system and charged as children. With the recent swing toward punishment, a new danger has been created for children as young as fourteen. They can be charged and found guilty of crimes in the adult justice system that will follow them for the rest of their lives. This is of even greater significance with California’s three strikes law A child under eighteen is not protected from long periods of confinement. Don’t let a case like a simple fight end up as a strike and haunt you or your child for life. Hire me now.

In addition I have a referral system for families in need of counseling for  children and themselves, including parenting classes, which can help in the difficult teenage years. No matter what the problem is I can help.

At the law offices of Lucy S. McAllister Inc., our goal is vigorously to defend Californians who have been charged or accused of criminal offenses, including juveniles charged with crimes.

For a free confidential consultation, and formore information please e-mail us or call us at 408-947-5946, 24 hours a day.

Criminal Defense Attorney Lucy S. McAllister defends clients throughout the San Francisco Bay Area who have been accused, charged, or arrested for criminal offenses in Santa Clara County, San Benito County, San Mateo County, Monterey County, Alameda County, and San Francisco County. Clients come to us from throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, including communities such as Sunnyvale, Mountain View, Santa Clara, Campbell, Cupertino, Los Gatos, Saratoga, Palo Alto, San Mateo, Salinas, Monterey, San Benito, Hollister, San Juan Bautista, Santa Cruz, Watsonville, Gilroy, San Martin, and Morgan Hill, Redwood City, San Francisco, Oakland, Fremont, Newark, and Hayward.