Whether it's a one-time 'slip-up' or the start of a criminal career, young people occasionally come into conflict with the law. Offenses such as shoplifting, assault, drug use, or property damage frequently play a role.
While general criminal law typically only provides for fines or custodial sentences as main penalties, juvenile criminal law is much more flexible and can, for example, involve community service, participation in prevention courses, or similar educational measures.
Under German law, a person between 14 and 18 years old is considered a juvenile, and the Juvenile Criminal Justice Act always applies during this age range. Young adults between 18 and 21 years old are considered 'adolescents' and are treated under juvenile criminal law if there is a so-called 'developmental delay'. This means that the adolescent's character and behavior resemble that of a juvenile rather than an adult. The juvenile court assistance service is consulted for this assessment.
In criminal proceedings, the juvenile court assistance service prepares a statement after personal meetings, outlining the personal situation and life history of the juvenile offender. This statement then recommends whether juvenile criminal law or general (adult) criminal law should be applied. Courts often base their assessment on these evaluations.
We will comprehensively inform you about the options provided by juvenile criminal law and the measures that a penalty under juvenile law entails. Contact a criminal defense lawyer in Nuremberg.
