Is Bail Required in Juvenile Crime Cases?

 Posted on June 23, 2022 in Bail Bonds

For many parents, the thought of their child being arrested can be very frightening. Young people’s brains are not fully developed, and they often act impulsively without thinking about the consequences of their actions. Unfortunately, this lack of restraint may lead them to commit crimes, and if they are caught, they may be arrested, taken into police custody, and required to appear before a judge in juvenile court. In juvenile delinquency proceedings and related criminal cases, parents will need to understand whether bail will need to be paid before their child can be released.

The Juvenile Court System and Transfers to Adult Court

When minors are between the ages of 10 and 17, criminal cases are handled in juvenile courts. However, a minor who is at least 17 years old will be treated as an adult following an arrest. The juvenile court system is less focused on imposing penalties for violations of the law, and instead, it seeks to rehabilitate youths and provide them with tools to help avoid criminal activity in the future, while still making sure an appropriate response is taken to illegal activities.

After a minor is taken into custody, a detention hearing must be held in juvenile court to determine whether the child can be released into the custody of a parent or guardian or whether they should continue being held in detention. Unlike in adult criminal cases, bail will not be set, and a defendant will not need to pay a bond before they can be released. However, a judge may impose certain requirements that are similar to bond conditions.

While bail will not be a factor in most juvenile cases, there are some situations where a court may determine that a minor should be tried as an adult. In these cases, a prosecutor may ask for the defendant to be certified as an adult so that the case can be transferred to adult court. Certification is only possible if a child is at least 15 years old, and a judge’s decision to certify a minor as an adult will depend on factors such as the defendant’s background, the circumstances of their alleged offense, their maturity, their previous record of arrests or involvement in juvenile court cases, and the likelihood of rehabilitation. After a certification is issued and a case is transferred to adult court, a judge may set a bond, and the defendant may be released after paying the specified amount of bail.

Contact Our Plano Bail Bondsmen for Juveniles Tried as Adults

While you may not need to worry about paying bail in most juvenile cases, if your child is at least 17 years old, or if they are tried as an adult, you may need to post bail before they can be released from custody. At Doc's Bail Bonds, we understand the stress and uncertainty you are facing in these situations, and we want to make the process of posting bail as simple and affordable as possible. We will work with you to complete all requirements put in place by the judge in your child’s case and ensure that they can get out of jail quickly. Contact our Dallas bail agents at 214-747-4110 to learn more about how we can help.

Sources:

https://www.tdcaa.com/journal/the-basics-of-juvenile-law/

https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/PE/htm/PE.8.htm#8.07

https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/FA/htm/FA.54.htm#54.02