“While There Is A Soul In Prison, I Am Not Free.

Juvenile Defense

Children who are accused of crime are supposed to be treated well, but they are not. One purpose of the Texas Juvenile Justice Code is to “provide for the care, protection, and the wholesome moral, mental, and physical development of children coming within its provisions.” You won’t find much of that at the children’s jail in San Benito.

There is not much sadder than the sight of a row of little kids in handcuffs.

In practice, children are treated worse than adults. Even 10-year-old kids can be subjected to harsh treatment of our juvenile system.

Grownups can get bonds and get out of jail. Children get locked up for psych evaluations and often get stuck there.

Grownups are told they have I right not to incriminate themselves. Children have this same right, but they are challenged to talk at every turn. And probation officers are among the worst offenders.

Often children are interrogated and given tests by hostile “mental health professionals,” (some of whom have no qualifying licensing or education). Then they are coerced into agreeing to be certified as adults, anyway.

Why would prosecutors and probation officers who dislike children get into this type of work? Maybe because they dislike children?

“Law without justice is a wound without a cure.” – William Scott Downey

Children are entitled to jury protection, but that is not the custom in the juvenile courts, based on the tone set by the prosecution. And the prosecution is vindictive. If prosecutors must work, they may retaliate against the kid.

Your child deserves a defense every bit as vigorous as an adult. Even a young child can be saddled with sex registration that prevents the child from finding work or a place to live after he or she grows up.