Juvenile criminal law represents a highly specialized sector that requires specific technical expertise and a particular sensitivity toward the developmental dynamics of adolescence. When a minor is involved in criminal proceedings, the consequences extend beyond the isolated incident and can influence their entire path of growth and personality formation. For this reason, juvenile criminal defense must combine legal rigor with an understanding of the psychological and educational peculiarities inherent to this stage of life. Our experience in the sector has taught us that every case requires an approach calibrated to the specific needs of the minor and their family and social context. From the initiation of proceedings until their conclusion, we develop defense strategies that respect the principle of minimal procedural offensiveness, promoting paths of accountability without compromising the young person’s future prospects.
Specialized Assistance in Juvenile Criminal Proceedings
We provide legal assistance and defense to minors and young adults involved in proceedings before the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Juvenile Court. Our expertise covers all offenses committed during minority, with particular mastery of the specific procedural rules that govern juvenile jurisdiction: from diversionary measures such as non-suit for irrelevance of the fact (irrilevanza del fatto) and probation (messa alla prova), to the peculiarities of evidence gathering and the conduct of the trial. We also assist parents and those exercising parental responsibility in matters connected to the proceedings.
Intervention Methodology in Juvenile Proceedings
Our approach is structured through specific phases adapted to the needs of juvenile proceedings:
- Assessment – analysis of the legal situation and the minor’s psycho-social context
- Family Coordination – active involvement of parents in strategic choices
- Strategy – identification of the most effective defense lines
- Protective Measures – preparation of necessary safeguards
- Investigations – collection of evidence and technical assessments in support
- Integrated Defense – procedural representation coordinated with educational and rehabilitative aspects
Collaboration with Child Development Specialists
Over the years, we have developed a collaborative network with child psychologists, criminologists, pedagogists, and social workers specialized in the juvenile sector. This multidisciplinary synergy allows us to offer a defense that considers not only the strictly legal aspects but also the minor’s needs for growth and maturity.
Confidentiality and Identity Protection
The protection of the minor’s privacy represents an absolute priority at every stage of the proceedings. We guarantee maximum confidentiality in case management and adopt all necessary safeguards to preserve the minor’s identity and protect their future from possible negative consequences arising from media or social exposure of the proceedings.
Territorial Scope
We operate nationwide before the Juvenile Courts, with particular focus in the Lombard jurisdictions, where we regularly assist clients in the provinces of Milan, Monza, Bergamo, Brescia, Como, Cremona, Mantova, Pavia, Sondrio, and Varese. Our experience also extends to proceedings requiring coordination with juvenile authorities in other European countries.
Crimes Within Our Competence
We provide legal assistance for all offenses committed by minors, with particular expertise in:
- Crimes Against the Person: murder/homicide, personal injury, negligent injury, battery, failure to render aid, etc.
- Crimes Against Liberty: kidnapping, private violence, threats, etc.
- Sexual Offenses: sexual violence, harassment, revenge porn, child pornography, sextortion, deepnude, sexting, etc.
- Crimes Against the Family: persecutory acts, stalking, domestic abuse/maltreatment in the family, domestic violence, incest, etc.
- Crimes Against Honor: defamation, online and social media defamation, etc.
- Property Crimes: fraud, robbery, extortion, usury, theft, embezzlement, receiving stolen goods, fraud, crimes related to cryptocurrencies and new technologies, etc.
- Narcotics and Drug-Related Offenses: cultivation, production, possession, trafficking, and sale of narcotic substances, etc.
- Cybercrimes and Cyberbullying: unauthorized access to computer systems, online harassment, dissemination of intimate images, etc.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Juvenile Criminal Process work?
The juvenile criminal process follows specific rules focused on the protection and re-education of the minor. It includes procedural tools such as the suspension of the process with probation, judicial pardon, and non-suit judgments for irrelevance of the fact.
What are the consequences of a conviction for a minor?
The consequences are generally less severe than for adults and are oriented towards re-education. The minor’s judicial record (casellario giudiziale) is confidential, and many convictions are automatically extinguished upon reaching the age of majority.
Can parents be involved in the proceedings?
Yes, parents have the right to be informed and assist the minor during the proceedings. In some cases, they may also be called upon to answer civilly for damages caused by the minor.
What does “probation” (messa alla prova) mean in the juvenile process?
It is a measure that allows for the suspension of the trial to enable the minor to follow an educational and reparative path. If successfully completed, the proceedings are extinguished without conviction.
How is the minor’s privacy protected?
The law strictly prohibits the disclosure of the full identity, images, or other elements that could lead to the identification of the minor involved in criminal proceedings.
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