Juvenile offenses

Teenagers are not exactly known for their great decision-making skills, but should poor decisions made during those years define their future? Unfortunately, this is often the case for juvenile offenders. Even if records do not directly follow them into adulthood,...

If your teen gets arrested on a criminal charge, you’ll likely experience many emotions as a parent. Fear, anger, worry and helplessness are just a few. However, you are not helpless, and there is hope. The first thing you can do—either to prepare for someday you hope...

A 13-year-old teenager was taken into police custody for his involvement in a fatal shooting incident. He is currently being held in a juvenile facility on investigation of murder. Like many other youthful offenders, it appears as if this young boy was struggling with...

Washington police recently arrested two teenagers who they say were involved in a robbery that ended in gunfire. The alleged teenage offenders are 16 and 18 years old, and both are still in police custody. A judge set the 16-year-old boy’s bail at $25,000, while the...

Parents are generally not familiar with Washington’s juvenile justice system unless their children are arrested. It can feel overwhelming trying to navigate the juvenile court process without a solid understanding of how things work or what comes next, and it can also...

Measuring recidivism rates can help lawmakers and experts better reduce the number of repeat offenders. However, past systems for tracking juvenile recidivism have not always given an accurate picture of what is going on. A more recent multi-organization project...

When an adult is arrested for violations of the law, he or she will face criminal charges. Minors also face legal consequences for these violations, but they are referred to as delinquent acts rather than crimes. A minor who has committed an act that violates...

Mental health awareness has improved over recent decades, and there are probably many people in Washington who now feel comfortable reaching out for help. But even those who are receiving appropriate treatment can -- and do -- still suffer the effects of their...

People all across Washington make mistakes each and every day. Most of these mistakes go largely unnoticed, and it may feel unfair that your child is now facing criminal charges for his or her misstep. This is a frustrating situation that you might not know how to...

Alcohol shows up almost everywhere in society. Whether watching a TV show, attending a party or just having dinner with friends, alcohol is very likely to make an appearance. It is understandable that Washington teenagers are often curious about alcohol, but the law...