Legal Question in Juvenile Dependency in California
my son was cited and given a ticket to report to court on or beofre a certain date, then in the mail we received a letter from DA office for a meeting to determine whether a juvenile petition should be filed. can this help us reduce the felony to an infraction? and do we need a lawyer for this meeting?
1 Answer from Attorneys
A DA "office hearing" is not an official proceeding and, while I haven't read the letter, neither you nor your son can be required to say anything to the DA and I doubt you even have to attend the meeting. Anything you or your son says at such a hearing is not confidential and can be used against you later on. Since many types juvenile of felony convictions will stay on your son's criminal record forever and could never be "expunged," and criminal records are a bar to a job search as never before, my recommendation is that you fight like hell within the limits of your ability to do so. Consult an attorney well before your court date, and do not meet with the DA or any DA investigator until you have at least consulted a defense attorney.
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