Juvenile Law

Experienced Juvenile Law Attorney in Santa Cruz

Good kids make mistakes. A good kid may find himself or herself in the wrong place at the wrong time. A good kid may get caught up in circumstances beyond his or her control. This can all be part of growing up, but unfortunately some of these mistakes have lifelong consequences.

At the Law Office of Andrew C. Janecki in Santa Cruz, California, I will work to minimize the long-term effects of your child's mistake. Whether your child has been charged with vandalism or minor alcohol possession, I have the juvenile court experience to effectively represent your child.

Juvenile Court: Better With Experienced Juvenile Lawyers

Juvenile courts are not the same as adult criminal court. The procedural rules change between the two courtrooms, as do the guaranteed constitutional protections. Perhaps most importantly, though, the two types of courts have different goals; while much of criminal court focuses simply on punishment, juvenile court is more oriented toward rehabilitation. The goal is to keep kids from getting in trouble with the law later in life.

Because of these differences, it's important to have an attorney with experience in juvenile court rather than just a general criminal defense lawyer. I have been representing kids involved in the juvenile court system for years, addressing a wide range of criminal charges including minor alcohol possession, minor drug possession, minor possession of paraphernalia and minor DUI.

Exploring Sentencing Alternatives

As your child's attorney, I will explore options beyond juvenile detention, throughout the legal proceedings. If your child is ultimately convicted, I will seek to mitigate the consequences and the punishments, exploring alternative sentencing arrangements such as electronic home monitoring, volunteer service hours or informal probation handling.

Contact Me

Whether your child has been charged with having weapons at school or minor alcohol possession, I can help. With more than 17 years in practice, I have the experience to represent your child. Contact me today to discuss your case. Call 831-459-0427 or fill out my online intake form.

Law Office of Andrew C. Janecki
303 Potrero Street, Suite 30
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Phone: 831-459-0427
Fax: 831-459-0532

From my offices in Santa Cruz, I serve California clients in:
Santa Cruz County - Santa Cruz, Watsonville, San Lorenzo Valley, Scotts Valley;
Alameda County - Oakland, Fremont;
Monterey County - Monterey, Salinas, Pacific Grove, Marina, King City;
San Benito County - Hollister;
San Mateo County - San Mateo, Pacifica,
Santa Clara County - San Jose, Palo Alto, Santa Clara, Silcon Valley, Sunnyvale.