Petersburg – Virginia juvenile law
Code of Virginia § 16.1-269.1 – Trial in circuit court; preliminary hearing; direct indictment; remand
If the juvenile is found to be above the ages fourteen at the time alleged for the offense that is considered the same as an adult perpetrating a felony, the court of Virginia shall arrange for a transfer hearing. The judge of the court will decide if they wish to retain their authority or transfer the accused minor to the circuit court where proper criminal proceedings will be held for that minor. If it is decided that the juvenile will be transferred to the circuit court, the following conditions shall be subjected to:
- Notice as prescribed in 16.1-263 and 16.1-264 must be given to the minor and the legal custodian, guardian, parent; or attorney;
- If the court finds the reason that juvenile committed the alleged delinquent act that would be taken for a felony if the offender was an adult;
- If the minor can survive the juvenile justice system for effective treatment and rehabilitation;
- The minor is capable to stand for trial.
- The court has a multitude of proof that the minor is not a proper person to remain within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court. In this case, the court will consider the juvenile’s age and the significance of alleged offenses:
As per the state law, it is required that:
- If the juvenile has been charged with an offense, the information must be present on the college applications. It will not matter if that charge is later on dismissed.
- All juveniles convicted of a felony have to be fingerprinted. It is vital that a duplicate copy of the juvenile’s fingerprint set is sent to the Central Criminal Records Exchange. Once the Central Criminal Records Exchange receives a copy, it will remain permanent in the juvenile’s adult record.
- Even a conviction on a misdemeanor or a deferred finding will result in the suspension of the juvenile’s license. Crimes like possession of alcohol and marijuana can result in the juvenile’s license being suspended.
- Any juvenile of ages 14 and above, and who have been charged with certain offenses, must be present for a hearing when they turn into an adult.
- Any juvenile above the age of 14, who has committed a felony, will always be banned from possessing a firearm. Not only that, the juvenile will be subjected to a hearing for a convicted felon for owning a firearm.
- A notice sent to the juvenile’s schools superintendent mentioning that the juvenile has been found guilty of certain crimes.
Probable Penalties Condemned To a Juvenile Convicted Of A Crime
The Juvenile Court of Petersburg – Virginia will penalize any juvenile convicted of a crime. The probable penalties sentenced by the judge can be:
- Probation
- Community service
- Restitution
- Captivity in Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Home for no more than a time period of 30 days,
- Captivity in Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Home for no more than a time period of six months where the juvenile will be registered in a program called the Post Dispositional Program
- Determinate or indeterminate verdicts at an institute operated by the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice.
In those circumstances where the gravity of the case is grave and serious, and the juvenile is of ages fourteen and above, if asked for, the Court can verify or relocate the accused juvenile for trial to the Circuit Court.