Juvenile Crimes in Nevada

Everyone makes mistakes, and this is especially true of children and teenagers. In some cases, a young person’s mistakes can lead to criminal charges. 

Finding out that your child has been arrested is overwhelming for any parent, but knowing what to expect throughout the process can help ease your anxiety.

Nevada Juvenile Court Procedure

According to Nevada law, anyone less than 18 years old is categorized as a minor. When a minor is arrested, they will be processed through the juvenile court system, which generally focuses more on rehabilitation than incarceration.

When a minor is arrested, procedure will follow these steps:

1. Initial arrest if a police officer feels the child has committed a crime
2. Immediate parental notification of the child’s arrest and the involvement of a probation officer
3. Release of the child to the parent with the agreement to bring the child to court
4. Attorney appointed by the court or hired by the parents to represent the child
5. Trial to determine whether or not the child committed a crime and sentencing
6. Completion of the sentencing, which may include fines, community service, driver’s license suspension, course in human development, or incarceration

Depending upon the offense, sentencing options can be as light as a verbal warning or as serious as time in a juvenile detention facility. Sending a child to prison is generally reserved for cases when alternative sentencing methods would be ineffective in preventing the crime from occurring again. As with any criminal case in Nevada, a child convicted in juvenile court has the right to appeal the judge’s sentencing.

The Impact of Juvenile Criminal Records

One of the biggest concerns for parents is how their child’s criminal conviction may affect their ability to get into college, future employment potential, and other opportunities. Typically juvenile offenders automatically have their records sealed when they are 21, unless they committed a serious offense.

Many offenders that committed crimes in their youth are able to have their records sealed or expunged, meaning that schools and employers will not be able to access this information. An expunged record means that the crime never existed in the eyes of the law. A sealed record means that the only time the record can be viewed is with the permission of the court.

Going through the juvenile court system can be frightening, and it’s important to have the representation of a proven law firm. The experienced criminal defense attorneys at De Castroverde Law Group can help ensure the best possible outcome for your child’s juvenile crime case in Las Vegas. Contact our family-run law firm to learn how we can help!

Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents

Bicycles can be a great alternative to driving a car or taking a bus around town. Many cities encourage biking to reduce the number of vehicles on the road, and provide bike lanes to keep cyclists safe as they travel.

Despite cities taking initiatives to try to reduce the number of bicycle accidents, collisions between cyclists and drivers continue to occur each day. And tragically, the majority of these accidents are caused by driver negligence or recklessness.

Understanding the most common causes of bicycle accidents can help cyclists and motorists alike take precautions to prevent these devastating collisions. Some of the most common causes of bicycle accidents include:

• Driver does not see the cyclist and makes a left turn
• Driver passes on the left of the cyclist and then makes a right turn into the cyclist’s path
• Driver in a stopped car opens their door into the path of an oncoming cyclist
• Driver enters or exits a driveway or parking lot without first checking for passing cyclists
• Driver strikes a cyclist from behind, usually when traveling around a bend in the road
• Driver makes a left-hand turn without checking for cyclists traveling straight through the intersection

Bicycle accidents often result in serious injuries, so it is imperative that both cyclists and motorists do their part to prevent collisions. Cyclists can help prevent collisions by maximizing their visibility by wearing reflective clothing and attaching lights to their bikes, taking extra precaution when approaching intersections and parking lot entrances, and following all traffic laws. Motorists should constantly be on the lookout for cyclists, check carefully before turning, and make sure that they always share the road with cyclists.

With the increasing popularity of cycling, it is important that motorists and cyclists learn to coexist on the road. If you or a loved one has been harmed in a bicycle accident caused by a negligent motorist, you may be able to seek compensation for your injuries and losses by filing a personal injury claim.

De Castroverde Law Group is a family-run firm that is dedicated to helping accident victims obtain justice, and we can help if you have been injured in the Las Vegas area. Contact our firm to learn about your rights as the victim of a bicycle accident.