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If your child is 17 it is very likely they will be charged as an adult in Texas. Texas still treats 17-year-olds as adults, even for non-violent and misdemeanor offenses. Depending on the circumstances and the nature of the crime, kids as young as 14 can be tried as adults in our state.

A detention hearing is held after the juvenile is taken into custody. A juvenile still has the right to be represented by a juvenile defense attorney at this stage.

An adjudication hearing is the equivalent of a trial in a criminal case. A disposition hearing is the equivalent of a sentencing hearing in a criminal case. A juvenile has the right to an attorney in both the adjudication and disposition hearings.

If your child has been arrested, you have a limited amount of time to protect their rights. The most important thing you should do is contact an experienced juvenile defense attorney immediately before the child makes any statement to law enforcement.

You and your attorney should discuss all of the circumstances of your child’s arrest and the offense he or she is being charged with. This includes your child’s age, the specific details of the arrest, and any prior criminal history. Your attorney will use this information to determine whether the police had probable cause to arrest your child, whether the child might be detained prior to trial, and how to best defend your child at trial.