A child arrest for allegedly commtting a crime in Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan, Stamford or Wilton, Connecticut? If so, they are summoned to the Stamford Juvenile Court.
Here is a brief summary of the process:
First court appearance – also known as initial plea date or arraignment
This is the date referenced on the Summons – typically a Tuesday. At this appearance, a juvenile court judge will advise the child of the following:
- The right to remain silent;
- The right to an attorney;
- The right to have an attorney present during any questioning;
- The right to a trial.
Once in awhile the case can be resolved on the spot. But usually the child’s attorney will enter a plea of “not guilty” and the case will be continued for a pretrial conference.
Pre-trial conference
This is ordinarily the first opportunity for the child’s attorney to speak in depth with a Prosecutor. Topics to be discussed include:
- The police report and witness statements
- The child’s prior juvenile court involvement such as arrest and conviction history
- The child’s eligibility to participate in certain programs
- The potential for reduced charges including the possibility of resolving the case through a plea agreement.
A juvenile court record may have potential consequences that follow a child into their adult life. Decisions to accept a “deal” must be carefully weighed.
Additional court dates
If an agreement is reached at the pre-trial conference, future court dates may be assigned. For example, an appearance before a judge is required for probation cases. Court dates may also be scheduled to ensure that the child has satisfied certain agreed upon requirements (i.e. community service, counseling).
Trial
If the child maintains their innocence or when the Prosecutor offers a “lousy deal” the case will eventually be scheduled for trial. At the trial, the State must prove the charges “beyond a reasonable doubt.” The child’s attorney will have an opportunity to cross-examine witnesses, object to evidence and present the appropriate theory of the case.
You may contact me by email or by calling my Fairfield office at (203) 259-5251 or in Stamford at (203) 356-1475 for further information concerning a child arrest.