State law requires all minors (under age 17, or 17 with misdemeanor charges only) appearing in juvenile court to be represented by an attorney.  The lawyers in Public Defender's Office may be court-appointed if the judge finds that the family (parents' & guardians' income included) is financially unable to afford to hire a lawyer.  For those who do not meet that threshhold, the practice of juvenile law is a specialized area of the law that not many attorneys are familiar with.  Scott A. Wineberg has over 7 years of exclusive juvenile court experience, the last 5 years as Supervisor of the Lake County Public Defender's Office Juvenile Trial Division.  If you want an experienced attorney who will treat you with respect and provide quality representation, give the Law Offices of Scott A. Wineberg, Ltd. a call.

There exists a tendency by some to impose the same degree of accountability against a minor as they would against an adult.  However, scientific research clearly shows that juveniles are not "mini adults."   The human brain continues to develop the region responsible for rational thinking (e.g. balancing the thrill of instant gratification against long-   term risks, the ability to assess the likelihood of those risks coming to fruition, and the extent of the risk) until into one's 20's.  Adolescents are fundamentally different in terms of their competency and development, and despite academic achievement, may not be mature enough to waive or give up their Miranda rights, or to form the necessary mental state to be guilty of the offense charged.   Children are like snowflakes and no two are alike.  While juvenile court judges entertain notions of what they believe will be in a child's best interests, your child needs someone who knows the in's and out's of juvenile court and all its unique procedures and terminology, who knows the child better than any prosecutor,  probation officer, or even the judge, and who will speak up on his or her behalf.  Scott A. Wineberg has been the voice for thousands of kids who have appeared in juvenile court.   Let him help you.

There are, however, some similarities between juvenile court and criminal court that can negatively impact a child's future.  For instance, juveniles found responsible for a felony are required by State law to submit a specimen of DNA (at the family's financial expense!) to be stored in a national database with other young and adult offenders.  Furthermore, a juvenile found guilty of a sex offense is required to register as a "sex offender" in the communities where he lives, works, and attends secondary school.  He needs the kind of legal advocate who will keep him off the registry or assist him in getting off that registry in the shortest time possible.  Please visit my AVVO profile or read my legal guide on removal from the sex offender registry.

Did you know that juvenile police and court records do not automatically get "sealed" at a certain age or after a certain passage of time?   There are steps you need to take to get those records sealed and/or expunged.  Any offense, even felonies, except first degree murder and felony sex offenses may be expunged.  Although juvenile court records and proceedings are confidential from the general public, there are exceptions that allow access to law enforcement agencies, branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, and the Dept. of Children and Family Services, to name a few.  Government-assisted housing often learns that a minor has been adjudicated delinquent, putting the entire household at risk of eviction.  Scott A. Wineberg is here to help give you that peace of mind which comes from knowing that a youthful indiscretion does not have to ruin your life.   Please visit my AVVO profile or read my legal guide on expunging juvenile court records in Illinois

In the 1990's our state legislatures enacted a series of laws to make it easier to prosecute children in criminal court and treat them like adults.  Scott has championed cases challenging these transfer of jurisdiction laws and other laws that allow delinquent minors to be housed in jail commingled with adults. 

Nobody plans to wind up in court, but when it happens to someone you know, be glad that help is just a phone call away.