Bountiful Juvenile Sex Crimes Lawyer
Having your child charged with a crime is particularly scary if the crime in question is a sex crime. Juvenile sex crimes are not uncommon, especially with laws on the books regarding sexting and the confusing lines that the law draws between children of similar ages experimenting with sex together. Because of this, it is not unusual to see children wind up in the court system accused of a sex crime. At Jardine Law Offices P.C. we know that as a parent, you are scared, angry, frustrated, and perhaps even shocked by the turn of events in your child’s life. We’re here to help. Our compassionate criminal defense attorney has helped families just like yours make it through this harrowing chapter in their lives. Reach out to us for help now.
Types of Juvenile Sex Crimes
Juvenile sex crimes fall into two classifications: Those committed against younger children, and those committed against the minor’s peers or adults. Some of the most common juvenile sex crimes include:
- Sexting (texting messages that are sexual in nature, including the sharing of genitals or other private parts)
- Exposure
- Repeated obscene phone calls
- Inappropriate touching
- Attempts to have intercourse
- Sexual harassment
- Child pornography distribution (when sharing sexual images of a fellow minor, including one’s own pictures)
- Forced sexual acts, including rape
Punishments for Juvenile Offenders
When a juvenile is found guilty of committing a serious sex crime, the child or teenager will be required to undergo a SBRA, or sexual behavior risk assessment. This assessment is conducted by a qualified psychologist and incorporates a variety of psychological tests to determine whether the juvenile is high, moderate, or low risk of committing similar sexual offenses ever again. SBRA findings assign a NOJOS, or Network on Juveniles Offending Sexually, risk level to the juvenile, which include eight levels of risk:
- Level 1 – In home, out-patient psychosexual education
- Level 2 – In home, out-patient sex-specific psychotherapy
- Level 3 – Sex-specific day treatment
- Level 4 – Sex-specific proctor/foster home, in tandem with outpatient sex-specific psychotherapy
- Level 5 – Sex-specific group home or sex-specific independent living and sex-specific treatment
- Level 6 – Sex-specific residential intensive and sex-specific treatment
- Level 7 – In-patient psychiatric and sex-specific treatment enhanced
- Level 8 – Secure care and sex-specific treatment enhanced
The court puts great weight on the findings of an SBRA; the higher the level the juvenile’s assigned, the more intensive therapy and treatment will be required. There is also an increased likelihood that the juvenile will have to serve time in a juvenile detention facility under these circumstances.
Call Us for Help
At Jardine Law Offices P.C. we are experts when it comes to navigating the complexities of the juvenile justice system. We have compassion and understanding for our underage clientele and their families and know just how overwhelming the entire legal process can be. We also know what you’re going through, and we know what needs to be done to help you at this difficult time. Reach out to our Juvenile sex crimes attorney now to discuss the particulars of the charges against your son or daughter, and let us determine the best course of action moving forward in your child’s case.
