Minnesota Juvenile Defense
If your child has been arrested in Minnesota, you are probably scared and full of questions. What happens next? Will this follow them for life? Can they be tried as an adult?
At Lundgren & Johnson, we defend juveniles across Minnesota as part of our criminal defense practice. We handle juvenile cases from misdemeanors to serious felonies. We answer the phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays. Call (612) 767-9643 for a free consultation.
How Juvenile Court Works
Juvenile court handles cases for children under 18. It is not the same as adult court. The focus is more on getting kids back on track than on punishment. Instead of a conviction, the court makes a finding called an adjudication.
But juvenile court is still serious. A case can lead to probation, placement outside the home, or time in a state facility. And in some cases, a child can be moved to adult court.
When a Child Can Be Tried as an Adult
A child who is 14 or older can be moved to adult court for a felony. This is called certification. For older teens, the risk is higher. If a child was 16 or 17, and the charge would send an adult to prison, or the child used a firearm, the law presumes the case moves to adult court. Then it is up to the defense to show, by clear and convincing evidence, that the case should stay in juvenile court.
Fighting certification is one of the most important things a lawyer can do. Keeping a case in juvenile court can change a child’s whole future.
Extended Jurisdiction Juvenile (EJJ)
Some cases fall in the middle. These are handled as Extended Jurisdiction Juvenile cases, or EJJ. In an EJJ case, the child gets a juvenile sentence plus a stayed adult sentence. If the child follows the rules and finishes the program, the adult sentence is never used. If the child breaks the rules, the adult sentence can be turned on. In EJJ cases, the court can stay involved until the child turns 21.
The Truth About Juvenile Records
Many parents think a juvenile record disappears at 18. In Minnesota, that is not true. Most juvenile records are private, but not all. They usually do not show up on a normal background check. But they are not erased on their own. To seal a record, you have to ask the court through a step called expungement. Courts also keep many juvenile records until age 28. For older teens charged with serious felonies, some records can even be public. This is why fighting the charge early matters so much.
How We Defend Juvenile Cases
Every child and every case is different. We start by learning your child’s story. Then we look at the stop or arrest, and whether police followed the rules. We look at the evidence, and whether the state can really prove the case. We look at your child’s school, home, and treatment history. And we look for options that keep your child out of adult court and out of custody.
Our goal is to protect your child’s record, freedom, and future.
Serving Families Across Minnesota
We represent young people in Minneapolis and Hennepin County. We also handle cases in Ramsey, Washington, Dakota, Scott, Carver, and Anoka counties. We take serious juvenile cases across all of Minnesota, including Greater Minnesota. Video consultations are available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my child be tried as an adult in Minnesota?
Yes, but only in some cases. A child must be at least 14, and the charge must be a felony. For 16 and 17 year olds with serious charges, the law presumes adult court unless the defense shows the case should stay in juvenile court.
Will my child’s record go away when they turn 18?
Not on its own. Minnesota does not seal juvenile records automatically. You must ask the court to expunge the record. A lawyer can walk you through that step.
What is EJJ?
It stands for Extended Jurisdiction Juvenile. The child gets a juvenile sentence and a stayed adult sentence. If they follow the rules, the adult sentence is never used.
Do you take juvenile cases after hours or on weekends?
Yes. Our office answers calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays. Call (612) 767-9643 to speak with us now.
Do you handle cases outside Minneapolis?
Yes. We defend young people across Minnesota. That includes the seven-county metro and Greater Minnesota.
Charged as a Juvenile in Minnesota?
A juvenile charge does not have to define your child’s life. The choices you make now matter. Call Lundgren & Johnson at (612) 767-9643 for a free, confidential consultation. We answer 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays.