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Juvenile Delinquency & Detention

We provide direct representation and counsel youth and families impacted by the Juvenile Justice system—our representation includes legal defense, preventing police interrogations, arranging for safe surrenders, and avoiding court filings through early engagement of legal support and intervention.

How To Get Help

If you are 17 and under and the police have contacted you about an arrest, or you are a parent/guardian of a youth 17 or under, call our Juvenile Rights Practice trial office in your borough and ask to speak to a delinquency supervisor:

Bronx: 718-579-7900
Brooklyn: 718-237-3100
Manhattan: 212-312-2260
Queens: 718-298-8900
Staten Island: 347-422-5333

We can answer your questions about the process and we are available to communicate with the arresting officer to:

  • Arrange for the youth to turn themselves in.
  • Tell the NYPD not to question the youth.
  • Provide counsel through the arrest process.

If your child has already been arrested and you have questions about what is going to happen you can also call us at the numbers above.

To find your child’s location if they have been remanded to detention (Crossroads, Horizons, or a Non-Secure Detention facility) call ACS at 212-442-7100.

Important Things To Know

Legal Aid is compiling the most up to date information and resources for clients during the evolving COVID-19 pandemic.

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Know Your Rights

What You Need to Know About Navigating the Juvenile Delinquency Process in NYC

Navigating the juvenile justice system can be challenging without help. Having an attorney by your side is critical! And should be a first step to protecting your rights. Our attorneys are available to assist you in the community and in the courthouse.

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What You Need to Know If You’re Under 16 and Being Prosecuted

If you are under 16 years of age, different rules apply when dealing with the criminal justice system. Learn more about the important distinctions.

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Terms You Might Hear

The justice system can be overwhelming. Get familiar with some legal terms and acronyms you might hear like appeal, adjournment, petition, jurisdiction, deposition, and affidavit.

See All Terms
  • Adjournment – A temporary postponement of a case until a specified future time.
  • Administration for Children's Services (ACS) – The Administration for Children's Services (ACS) and its network of community-based organizations promotes the safety and well-being of New York's children and families.
  • Arraignment – A criminal proceeding at which the defendant is called before a court, informed of the offense charged in the complaint, information, indictment, or other charging document, and asked to enter a plea of guilty, not guilty, or as otherwise permitted by law.
  • Attorney – A person admitted to practice law and authorized to perform criminal and civil legal functions on behalf of clients.
  • Bail – The temporary release of a prisoner in exchange for security given for the prisoner's appearance at a later hearing.
  • Clerk – An official or employee of the court who maintains the files of each case, and issues routine documents.
  • Conviction – A criminal proceeding that concludes the defendant is guilty of the charged crime.
  • Custody – The care, possession, and control of a thing or person.
  • Defendant – In a civil matter, this refers to the individual being sued. This party is called the "respondent" in a summary proceeding. In a criminal case, the court officers and district attorneys will use this term to refer to someone accused of a crime.
  • Delinquency – An offense or misdemeanor; a misdeed; A debt or other financial obligation on which payment is overdue.
  • Dismissal – Termination of a proceeding for a procedurally prescribed reason.
  • Evidence – A form of proof or probative matter legally presented at the trial of an issue by the acts of the parties and through witnesses, records, documents, concrete objects, etc., for the purpose of inducing belief in the minds of the court or the jury.
  • Felony – An offense of graver character than a misdemeanor and usu. punished by imprisonment for more than one year.
  • Grand Jury – A jury convened to determine if there is sufficient evidence to warrant the indictment of a suspected offender.
  • Juvenile Offender – A youth who is 13, 14 or 15 years old and has committed a very serious felony, may be tried as an adult in the New York City Supreme Court. If found guilty, the youth is called a Juvenile Offender, and is subject to more serious penalties than a Juvenile Delinquent.
  • Lawyer – Someone whose job is to give advice to people about the law and speak for them in court.
  • Lien – A claim on specific property for payment of a debt.
  • Misdemeanor – Lesser crime punishable by a fine and/or county jail time for up to one year. Misdemeanors are distinguished from felonies which can be punished by a state prison term.
  • Motion – A request to the court, usually in writing, for relief before the trial on the parties' claims, or for different or additional relief after the trial decision.
  • Order of Protection – A court order requiring someone to stay a certain distance from another person, and sometimes, their children, home, pets, school or employment.
  • Petition – In special or summary proceedings, a paper like a document filed in court and delivered to the respondents, stating what the petitioner requests from the court and the respondents.
  • Precinct – A district of a city or town defined for police purposes. May also refer to a police station.
  • Probation – The condition of being allowed freedom if they commit no more crimes and follow certain rules.
  • Proceeding – A type of lawsuit. For example: In Housing Court, a nonpayment proceeding seeks past-due rent; a holdover proceeding seeks possession of the premises.
  • Testimony – An oral declaration made by a witness or party under oath.
  • Trial – The formal examination of a legal controversy in court so as to determine the issue.
  • Warrant – An official document approved by an authority (normally a judge) which gives the police permission to do certain things.
  • Witness – A person who testifies to what they have seen, heard, or otherwise observed.

Last Updated: 30 September 2019

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