If your child is charged with a crime in the state of Connecticut, you must know what he or she is up against. There is a limited list of the juvenile offenses that minors can be charged with in Connecticut, and these should be understood in the event of an arrest. These offenses are outlined for you below.

Drug and Alcohol Possession

One common offense that minors can be accused of is possession of drugs. In order to be convicted of this charge, the state must prove (1) that the defendant knew the character of the substance, (2) knew of its presence, and (3) exercised dominion and control over it. Many times the police will charge a group of youths with possession if they find a drug in their midst. If your child was in the presence of drugs but charged with possession, Ruane Attorneys can fight this charge.

In addition to drug possession, children can also be charged with alcohol possession. Alcohol possession is defined as, “Purchasing liquor or making a false statement to procure liquor by person forbidden to purchase prohibited. Possessing liquor by minor on public or private property prohibited…” (CGS 30-89). Because minors can be charged with purchasing and possessing alcohol, they can be charged with DUIs. CGS 14-227g states that, “Operation by person under twenty-one years of age while blood alcohol content exceeds two-hundredths of one percent” will result in a DUI for a minor.

Assault

Another offense that minors can be charged for is assault. Children can be charged with assault in the first, second, or third degree, or assault in the second degree with a firearm. While these offenses will differ based on the charge, assault generally occurs from fighting. Your child can be charged with assault for fighting in school or out of school. All assault crimes are considered felonies and should therefore be taken seriously.

Sex Offenses and Criminal Mischief

Children can also be charged with sex offenses. Minors can be charged with sex assault in the first, second, third, or fourth degree. Again, all of these crimes are considered felonies and will differ based on the charge. Larceny in the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, or sixth degree are other crimes that children can be tried and convicted for. Criminal mischief is another offense that children can be convicted of, in the first, second, or third degree. In order to understand the differences between the degrees of the charges for each crime, you should first get the details of the situation leading to your child’s arrest, and then contact a juvenile defense lawyer such as myself.

Learning that your child has been arrested is always shocking. However, just because your child has been charged does not mean that he or she will be convicted of the offense. Understanding the types of offenses that minors are charged with in Connecticut can help you make informed decisions about your child’s defense.