Like most other states, juveniles in Nevada have a separate justice system that governs interactions between them and the government's legal arm. Established guidelines for juvenile court functions can be found in Chapter 62 of the NRS. To fall within the bounds of the Nevada juvenile court system, NRS Section 62A.030 outlines that a person does not exceed 18 years of age unless they are 21 years old or under and committed the alleged unlawful acts before their 18th birthday. Even if a crime falls within the juvenile court system, you or your child could still face serious consequences if found guilty of any charges. Juvenile courts can still impose serious life-altering consequences for those convicted of crimes within the system. 

When going through the juvenile court process in Nevada, a minor can expect the system to differ from the adult one. The first step of the juvenile court process must involve detention or an incident where the minor is taken into custody. After law enforcement has the minor in custody, they will reach out to the child’s parents. Depending on the nature of the crime, the minor could be taken into custody and released for supervised detention. Juvenile court begins with an illegal or inciting incident requiring supervision or intervention.

Once in the system, minors facing juvenile court actions may reasonably expect:

• To receive mandatory detention for a minimum of 2-3 hours and a maximum of 72 hours before being brought before a judge to determine if release is appropriate. Delinquent children are only held if the child is a fugitive, likely to commit another crime, is a flight risk, or was picked up on a warrant.
• To receive a petition to appear in a juvenile court hearing. After reviewing the case details, a district attorney can decide whether to file a petition alleging the child is delinquent or in need of supervision. The minor can agree to a plea deal or deny the allegations and appear in court.

There isn’t a jury in juvenile court cases, but a judge is assigned to preside over these cases and render judgment. Cases in juvenile court can be appealed to the Nevada Court of Appeals. If the court and the minor agree, probation for at least 6 months, up to 2-3 years, may be imposed. 

Juvenile court differs from adult court in processes and terminology. Juvenile court charges minors with delinquent acts instead of criminal charges like felonies and misdemeanors. Charges in juvenile court are processed by petition and instead of being convicted, juveniles are found delinquent in their case. If a juvenile defendant is deemed delinquent in their case, they receive a disposition of the rehabilitative or punitive actions taken in their case. The only time a minor would be charged with these types of criminal charges would be if they were charged as an adult. 

• The minor or qualified youth is alleged to have committed an adult felony offense and is at least 14 years old or older
• The minor or qualified youth is alleged to have committed murder or attempted murder and is at least 13 years old
• The minor or qualified youth is alleged to have committed a sexual assault or threatened violence against a victim and is at least 16 years old
• The minor of qualified youth is alleged to have committed a crime using a firearm or threatened to use one and is at least 16 years old

Our team can aggressively defend you or your child in juvenile proceedings and help you explore your options. The Las Vegas juvenile crimes attorneys at Pitaro & Fumo, Chtd. will review your case and begin planning a defense strategy. Call (702) 623-5185 today to schedule a consultation.