Juvenile Defense · Los Angeles County

Los Angeles Juvenile Crimes Attorney

Aggressive defense for minors charged under Welfare & Institutions Code §602 in every Los Angeles County juvenile courthouse — from detention hearing to sealed record.

10+ Years Defending LA Juveniles Available 24/7 for Detention Hearings Free, Confidential Consultation

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What Is Juvenile Crime Under California Law?

In California, when a person under 18 is accused of violating a criminal statute, the case is generally handled in juvenile court under Welfare & Institutions Code §602 rather than adult criminal court. The District Attorney files a document called a "petition" — not a complaint or information — and the resulting proceeding is civil in form, even though it addresses conduct that would be a crime if committed by an adult.

The juvenile court is designed to rehabilitate rather than punish. There is no jury trial, no cash bail, and no criminal conviction. If the judge finds the allegations true after a jurisdiction hearing, the court issues a "sustained petition" — the juvenile-court equivalent of a guilty finding — and then holds a disposition hearing to decide the outcome. A sustained petition is not a conviction, does not appear on standard adult criminal background checks, and can be sealed under WIC §781 or §786.

Cases are filed either directly by the LA County District Attorney's Juvenile Division or after the LA County Probation Department reviews a police report and recommends filing. Some cases never reach the courthouse at all — informal diversion under WIC §654 lets probation resolve first-time and low-level offenses with counseling and community service and no petition ever filed. Understanding which path a case is on, early, is critical to protecting a minor's record.

Step by Step

How the Juvenile Justice System Works in Los Angeles

1. Arrest and Intake

LAPD, LASD, or a school officer detains the minor and transports them to a juvenile hall — Central Juvenile Hall in Lincoln Heights, Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall in Sylmar, or a satellite intake center. LA County Probation reviews the police report and decides whether to release the minor, schedule diversion, or refer the case to the DA.

2. Detention Hearing (Within 48 Hours)

If the minor is not released at intake, the court must hold a detention hearing within 48 court hours. The judge reads the WIC §602 petition, appoints counsel if none is retained, and decides whether the minor stays in custody or is released home. This is the first — and often the most critical — court appearance.

3. Jurisdiction Hearing (Trial)

The jurisdiction hearing is the juvenile equivalent of a bench trial. There is no jury. The DA presents evidence, defense cross-examines witnesses, and the judge decides whether the allegations are true beyond a reasonable doubt. If sustained, the case moves to disposition. If not, the petition is dismissed.

4. Disposition Hearing (Sentencing)

After a sustained petition the court holds a disposition hearing, guided by a probation report. Options range from informal probation at home, to formal probation, to camp placement, to Secure Youth Treatment Facility commitment for the most serious WIC §707(b) offenses.

The LA County Probation Department is the constant thread through every stage — from intake at Central and Nidorf juvenile halls, through the jurisdiction hearing, into probation supervision after disposition. Every court appearance is an opportunity to steer the case toward diversion, dismissal, or the least restrictive disposition.

Beyond the Courtroom

Penalties and Consequences of a Sustained Juvenile Petition

The juvenile system offers a wider range of dispositions than adult court, but the consequences of a sustained WIC §602 petition can still shape a young person's life for years. Understanding every possible outcome — and the strategies to avoid the most serious ones — is essential.

Informal Probation (WIC §725)

For less serious offenses the court may declare the minor a ward but leave them with a parent under informal probation. Conditions typically include school attendance, curfews, no-contact orders, community service, and drug testing. Successful completion usually leads to sealing under WIC §786.

Formal Probation and Home Supervision

The minor is declared a ward under WIC §602 and placed on formal probation with a probation officer. Conditions can include GPS monitoring, mandatory counseling, and search-and-seizure terms that eliminate Fourth Amendment protection during the probation term.

Camp Placement

LA County operates probation camps — including Camp Kilpatrick and Camp Afflerbaugh — that combine detention with schooling and treatment. Camp stays typically range from three to nine months. Camp is often the alternative when the court rejects home probation but wants to avoid Division of Juvenile Justice commitment.

Secure Youth Treatment Facility (Post-DJJ Closure)

The state Division of Juvenile Justice closed in June 2023. Serious youth offenders are now held in county-run Secure Youth Treatment Facilities under SB 823. Terms can run until age 25 for the most serious WIC §707(b) offenses.

Transfer to Adult Court

If the DA succeeds on a WIC §707 fitness motion, the case moves to adult criminal court. The minor now faces a jury trial, adult sentencing, and — if convicted of a strike offense — decades in state prison. Preventing transfer is the single most important defense objective in serious juvenile cases.

Immigration, School, and Firearm Consequences

Juvenile adjudications are not adult convictions, but they can still trigger federal immigration consequences (particularly for controlled-substance and firearm findings), automatic school expulsion under Education Code §48915, and lifetime firearm prohibitions under Penal Code §29820 for certain offenses committed after age 14.

Our Approach

Defense Strategies for Juvenile Charges in Los Angeles

Challenging the Evidence and Identification

Juvenile cases frequently rest on eyewitness identification by other minors, school administrators, or police officers who arrive after the fact. We attack cross-racial identifications, suggestive show-ups, and school security footage that was not properly preserved. Where the state's case depends on a single identification, undermining that identification often collapses the entire petition.

Fourth Amendment Suppression Motions

The Fourth Amendment applies to minors, and Penal Code §1538.5 motions are available in juvenile court. School searches are governed by a lower reasonable-suspicion standard under New Jersey v. T.L.O., but backpack searches, phone searches, and off-campus stops by police still require probable cause. We litigate suppression aggressively — evidence suppressed in juvenile court usually ends the case.

Informal Diversion Under WIC §654

For first-time and low-level offenses, we push probation and the DA toward informal diversion under WIC §654 or the newer §654.2 program. Successful diversion means no petition is ever filed, no juvenile adjudication, and no record to seal — the case simply closes. We build diversion packages with counseling enrollment, school reports, and community-service commitments before the intake decision is made.

Fitness Hearings to Stay in Juvenile Court

When the DA files a WIC §707 transfer motion, we mount a full fitness defense — psychological evaluation from a forensic child psychologist, school records showing rehabilitative potential, probation reports, and expert testimony on brain development in adolescents. Keeping the case in juvenile court means a maximum jurisdiction of age 25 instead of a potential decades-long adult prison sentence.

Miranda and Interrogation Challenges

SB 203 (2020) requires minors 17 and under to consult with counsel before waiving Miranda rights in most cases. Statements taken in violation of SB 203 are inadmissible. We also litigate the voluntariness of confessions under the totality-of-the-circumstances test, which weighs age, education, presence of a parent, and length of interrogation more heavily for minors than adults.

Sealing and Post-Disposition Relief Under WIC §781

Even after a sustained petition, our work is not done. We petition for record sealing under WIC §781 and automatic dismissal under §786 as soon as the minor is eligible. A sealed record lets our clients legally answer 'no' on job, college, and housing applications — protecting the rest of their lives from a mistake made as a teenager.

Related California Codes for Juvenile Cases

WIC §602

Delinquency Jurisdiction — the primary statute under which minors are charged in juvenile court

WIC §707

Transfer of Minor to Adult Court — the fitness hearing statute

WIC §781

Sealing of Juvenile Records after age 18

WIC §786

Automatic Sealing after Successful Probation Completion

PC §187

Murder — the most serious WIC §707(b) transfer offense

PC §245

Assault with a Deadly Weapon — often filed against minors

HS §11350

Possession of a Controlled Substance

LA County Juvenile Courts

Juvenile Courts in Los Angeles

LA County operates three primary juvenile courthouses. Which courthouse a case is filed in usually depends on where the arrest occurred and which juvenile hall the minor was transported to.

Lancaster

Alfred J. McCourtney Juvenile Justice Center

Serves the Antelope Valley and northern LA County juvenile matters. Handles detention hearings, jurisdiction hearings, and dispositions for minors arrested by Lancaster, Palmdale, and LASD Antelope Valley stations.

Lincoln Heights

Eastlake Juvenile Courthouse (Central)

The busiest juvenile courthouse in the county, co-located with Central Juvenile Hall. Handles downtown, East LA, South LA, and Southeast LA juvenile petitions. Home to Los Angeles County's Delinquency Court.

Sylmar

Sylmar Juvenile Courthouse

Co-located with Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall. Serves the San Fernando Valley and Santa Clarita Valley juvenile matters — including cases from LAPD Valley Bureau, LASD Santa Clarita, and San Fernando Police.

WIC §781 & §786

Sealing Juvenile Records in California

Sealing a juvenile record is one of the most valuable outcomes we pursue for our clients — because it lets a young adult move into college, career, and housing without a teenage mistake following them. California offers two paths: automatic sealing under Welfare & Institutions Code §786, and petition-based sealing under WIC §781.

WIC §786 — Automatic sealing. When a minor satisfactorily completes probation on a case that is not a WIC §707(b) felony, the court is required to dismiss the petition and seal the record. The minor does not have to file anything — the sealing is automatic. This is one of the reasons that closing probation on good terms matters so much.

WIC §781 — Petition-based sealing. For cases that do not qualify for automatic sealing, the person can petition the court to seal the record once they turn 18, or five years after the last case closed, whichever is later. The court considers rehabilitation, subsequent adult record, and the nature of the underlying offense. WIC §707(b) offenses committed at age 14 or older are not eligible.

A sealed record is treated as if the arrest and adjudication never happened for essentially every civil purpose. The person may legally answer "no" on employment, college, and housing applications. Law enforcement retains access, and certain federal licensing (peace officer, some military and defense positions) can still see the underlying incident — but for the vast majority of applications, sealing wipes the slate clean.

We handle sealing petitions as a routine part of representing a juvenile client — the case is not over when probation ends.

WIC §707 Transfer Hearings

When Can a Minor Be Tried as an Adult in California?

California once let the District Attorney file serious juvenile cases directly in adult court. Proposition 57, passed by voters in 2016, ended direct filing. Today every transfer to adult court requires a judicial hearing under Welfare & Institutions Code §707.

The DA can file a transfer motion when a minor age 16 or 17 is charged with any felony, and when a minor age 14 or 15 is charged with one of the enumerated WIC §707(b) offenses — including murder (PC §187), attempted murder, robbery, rape, and certain firearm-enhanced violent felonies. The court then holds a fitness hearing and considers five statutory criteria:

The degree of criminal sophistication exhibited by the minor.
Whether the minor can be rehabilitated before juvenile court jurisdiction ends (age 25 for §707(b) cases, otherwise 21).
The minor's previous delinquent history.
The success of previous attempts by the juvenile court to rehabilitate the minor.
The circumstances and gravity of the alleged offense.

A fitness hearing is not a quick appearance — it is a full evidentiary proceeding that can span several court days. We build the defense with a forensic child psychologist retained early, school records, teacher and mentor letters, prior probation reports, and expert testimony on adolescent brain development. Defeating a transfer motion keeps the case in juvenile court, where the maximum outcome is a Secure Youth Treatment Facility commitment until age 25 rather than a life sentence in state prison. It is often the single most important battle in a serious juvenile case.

Representative Juvenile Results

Case Results — Juvenile Defense

Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is decided on its own facts.

Petition Dismissed

WIC §602 — Robbery Petition (Age 16)

Suppression motion granted after cell-phone search violated Riley v. California. Client returned to school with no adjudication.

Fitness Retained

WIC §707 Transfer Motion — Assault With a Deadly Weapon

Defeated DA transfer motion after forensic psychological evaluation and school-record showing at fitness hearing. Case stayed in juvenile court.

Informal Diversion — No Petition Filed

HS §11350 Possession (Age 15)

Negotiated pre-filing diversion with LA County Probation. Six months of counseling completed; no juvenile record exists.

About the Attorney

Daniel S. Rubin — Los Angeles Juvenile Defense Attorney

Daniel S. Rubin has practiced criminal defense in Los Angeles County for more than a decade, defending clients — including minors — in every LA County courthouse from Lancaster to Long Beach. His juvenile practice focuses on early intervention: pushing cases into WIC §654 diversion before a petition is ever filed, winning release at detention hearings, and defeating WIC §707 transfer motions to keep young clients out of adult court.

Daniel handles every juvenile case personally — no case handoffs, no associate coverage at critical hearings. Families can reach him directly, 24/7, at (213) 723-2337.

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Frequently Asked Questions — Juvenile Crimes in Los Angeles

What happens at a juvenile arraignment in LA?

In Los Angeles, a juvenile arraignment is called a detention hearing and must occur within 48 hours of a minor being taken into custody (excluding weekends and holidays). The judge reads the WIC §602 petition, appoints counsel if the family has not retained one, decides whether the minor stays in juvenile hall or is released to a parent or guardian, and sets the jurisdiction hearing. Unlike adult court there is no cash bail — release turns on flight risk, danger to the community, and the minor's home situation. Having an attorney present at the detention hearing dramatically improves the odds of release.

Can a juvenile record be sealed in California?

Yes. Welfare & Institutions Code §781 allows most juvenile records to be sealed once the minor turns 18 (or five years after the case closes, whichever is later), if there are no adult felony convictions and the person has not been convicted of a crime of moral turpitude as an adult. WIC §786 provides automatic sealing when a minor satisfactorily completes probation. Sealed records are treated as if the arrest and adjudication never happened for almost every civil purpose — including employment, housing, and college applications. Certain WIC §707(b) offenses committed at age 14 or older are not eligible.

Can my child be tried as an adult in California?

Yes, in limited situations. Under WIC §707, the District Attorney can file a transfer motion asking the juvenile court to send a minor age 16 or 17 (and in some serious cases age 14 or 15) to adult court. The judge weighs five statutory criteria: the degree of criminal sophistication, whether the minor can be rehabilitated before juvenile court jurisdiction ends, the minor's prior delinquent history, prior attempts at rehabilitation, and the gravity of the alleged offense. Proposition 57 (2016) removed the DA's ability to file directly in adult court — every transfer now requires a judge's decision after a full fitness hearing.

What is the difference between juvenile and adult court?

Juvenile court is a civil, rehabilitative proceeding. There is no jury, no cash bail, and no criminal conviction — the judge issues a sustained petition and a disposition order. The focus is on treatment, education, and returning the minor to the community. Adult court is a criminal proceeding with the right to a jury trial, formal sentencing, potential state prison, and a permanent criminal conviction on the public record. A sustained juvenile petition does not count as a conviction and generally cannot be used to impeach the minor as a witness later in life.

Does a juvenile conviction show on a background check?

Juvenile records are confidential under WIC §827 and are not on the public criminal record indexed by consumer background-check companies. Standard employment and housing background checks should not surface a juvenile matter. Once the record is sealed under WIC §781 or §786, the minor may legally answer 'no' when asked about arrests or adjudications — with narrow exceptions for peace-officer applications and certain federal licensing. Unsealed records can still be viewed by law enforcement, some licensing boards, and the courts.

What is Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall?

Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall is Los Angeles County's largest secure juvenile detention facility, located in Sylmar. It houses minors awaiting jurisdiction hearings, disposition, or transfer determinations, and it serves the north San Fernando Valley juvenile courts (Sylmar Juvenile Courthouse). Central Juvenile Hall in Lincoln Heights serves downtown and East LA. Both facilities are operated by the LA County Probation Department. Getting a minor released from Nidorf or Central at the detention hearing is one of the most important early wins in any juvenile case.

How does informal diversion work for juveniles?

Informal diversion under WIC §654 lets the probation officer, or in some cases the DA, handle the case without ever filing a formal petition. The minor agrees to a period of supervision — typically six months — with conditions like community service, counseling, school attendance, and drug testing. If the minor completes the program the case is closed with no petition ever filed and no juvenile adjudication. Diversion is most commonly offered for first-time misdemeanor offenses, low-level drug possession, and school-related incidents.

What is a WIC 707 fitness hearing?

A WIC §707 fitness hearing (also called a transfer hearing) is the proceeding where the juvenile court decides whether a minor should be tried in juvenile or adult court. The DA must file a motion, and the judge holds an evidentiary hearing where both sides present psychological evaluations, school records, prior probation history, and expert testimony on rehabilitation potential. The judge then weighs the five WIC §707 criteria. If the court finds the minor fit for juvenile court, the case stays in the juvenile system. If not, it is transferred to adult court where the minor faces the full criminal process.

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