JUVENILE CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY IN MADRID
Discovering that your child is involved in criminal proceedings is an overwhelming experience. Acting quickly with the right juvenile defense attorney in Madrid makes the difference between a disproportionate measure and a resolution that protects their future. From the very first moment, the attorney takes on the defense and accompanies the family through each phase of the process.
Defense in crimes committed by minors: how we can help you from the very first moment
Receiving a call from the police or the Juvenile Prosecutor’s Office informing you that your child is under investigation creates uncertainty that is difficult to manage. In juvenile jurisdiction, every decision made from the beginning of the proceedings directly influences the final outcome. A juvenile criminal defense attorney intervenes from the first proceeding to ensure that the minor’s rights are respected and that the defense is built solidly from the start.
What constitutes a crime committed by minors?
Organic Law 5/2000 on Juvenile Criminal Responsibility regulates the prosecution of crimes committed by persons 14 to 17 years old. Unlike adult criminal justice, the juvenile system does not impose sentences but measures, and the purpose of the proceedings is not to punish, but to educate and reintegrate.
The juvenile judge not only evaluates the severity of the act, but also the minor’s environment: their family situation, their academic record, their psychological state and their capacity to respond to an educational intervention. This makes the technical team’s report and the defense strategy have decisive weight in the resolution.
Criminal responsibility of minors under 14 years
Minors under 14 years are exempt from criminal responsibility under LO 5/2000. This means they cannot be prosecuted or subjected to judicial measures, regardless of the severity of the act committed. When a minor
When do you need a juvenile criminal defense attorney?
You need a juvenile criminal defense attorney as soon as any of these situations occur:
- Your child has been arrested
- You have received a summons from the Prosecutor’s Office or the Court
- There is a complaint against a minor
- A case file has been opened in juvenile jurisdiction
This is where one of the most common mistakes is made:
Waiting.
And in juvenile cases, arriving late usually means losing defense options.
How juvenile jurisdiction works in Spain
The juvenile criminal procedure is different from that of adults.
It has its own rules that you should know:
- The Prosecutor’s Office directs the investigation
Unlike the ordinary criminal process, the investigation is conducted by the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
- A technical team intervenes
The following is analyzed:
- Family situation
- Education
- Social environment
- Psychological profile
This report can be decisive.
- The Juvenile Judge decides
The Juvenile Courts are the only ones with jurisdiction to resolve these cases
- There are no sentences, there are measures
The objective is not to punish, but to correct the minor’s behavior.
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What crimes do minors commit most frequently?
As expert criminal defense attorneys, we accompany our clients in all types of proceedings:
Personal Injury
Fights that result in medical reports and criminal charges.
Theft
Especially mobile phones, money, or personal belongings.
Threats
Messages or discussions that end up in criminal charges.
Cyberbullying
Increasingly frequent conduct through social media.
Theft
Shoplifting in stores or shopping centers.
More serious crimes
There are also cases of:
- Drug trafficking
- Sexual offenses
In these cases, the intervention of a juvenile criminal defense attorney is even more important.
What measures can a juvenile court judge impose?
In juvenile jurisdiction, we don’t speak of sentences, but of measures.
These are the main ones:
CONFINEMENT
The most severe. The minor is placed in a facility.
It can be:
- Closed
- Semi-open
- Open
SUPERVISED RELEASE
Monitoring with conduct rules and control.
SOCIO-EDUCATIONAL TASKS
Educational activities aimed at rehabilitation.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Unpaid work for social purposes.
OTHER MEASURES
The following may also be imposed:
- Restraining order
- Living with another family
- License revocation (such as driving)
The law establishes a broad catalog of measures adapted to each specific case
What does the imposed measure depend on?
Here is the key.
The measure doesn’t depend only on the crime.
Also influential are:
- The minor’s age
- Their family environment
- Their attitude
- The technical team’s report
- The defense strategy
Therefore, a good juvenile criminal defense attorney in Madrid doesn’t only discuss the facts. They work on the entire context.
Why it is essential to have an attorney expert in juvenile jurisdiction
One of the families’ greatest concerns is whether the juvenile criminal proceedings will generate a criminal record that will condition their child’s future. The answer is that resolutions issued by juvenile courts are not registered in the Central Criminal Registry, but in a specific and reserved registry that only juvenile judges and the Public Prosecutor’s Office have access to.
This means that, in principle, the existence of a juvenile reform file does not appear on criminal background certificates requested for employment, obtaining a license, or taking civil service exams. However, if the minor reoffends before turning 18, the judge will take into account previous files when determining the measure. A juvenile criminal defense attorney can advise on record expungement and on the specific implications in each case.
Why is it essential to have an attorney expert in juvenile jurisdiction?
Because these types of proceedings don’t work like adult cases.
An attorney specialized in juveniles:
- Prepares the statement from the beginning
- Controls the strategy against the Prosecutor’s Office
- Works on the technical team’s report
- Seeks the most favorable measure
- Avoids errors that can condition the entire proceeding
A poor defense at the beginning can determine the outcome.
A good defense can change it completely.
CLIENT REVIEWS
Real client reviews of the firm after hiring our services as criminal defense attorneys in Madrid.
Have you been reported or is your child being investigated?
If you find yourself in this situation, don’t improvise.
In juvenile jurisdiction, every step counts.
And the sooner intervention occurs, the more options there are to redirect the case.
Request a consultation with a juvenile criminal defense attorney in Madrid
We will study your case and tell you exactly what you’re facing.
OUR BLOG
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