Juvenile Crimes
Always Pursuing the Best Possible Result
Fort Worth Juvenile Criminal Defense Lawyers
Fort Worth Juvenile Defense Since 2015: Speak Directly with an Attorney
When a minor is accused of a crime in Texas, the stakes are high, and the window to act is narrow. Juveniles often have options adults don’t: pathways to avoid a conviction entirely and keep their records clean. Those options can close quickly. Juvenile cases in Tarrant County can move faster than cases in adult court, which is why contacting a juvenile defense lawyer in Fort Worth before any hearing is critical.
Tarrant County’s 323rd District Court handles juvenile matters with a focus on rehabilitation, not punishment. That distinction matters, and so does who you call. At Blake & Blake, LLP, when you call, you speak directly with an attorney, not a receptionist or paralegal. We offer free consultations and represent juveniles in Tarrant County courts at every stage of the process.
In Texas, a juvenile aged 14 or older may be certified to stand trial as an adult for capital felonies, aggravated controlled substance felonies, or first-degree felonies. At 15 or older, certification can extend to second-degree, third-degree, and state jail felonies. This process, called “certification” or “transfer,” requires a juvenile court hearing. The court weighs factors including the severity of the offense, the juvenile’s age and maturity, prior record, continuing danger to the public, and the likelihood of rehabilitation within the juvenile system.
If certified as an adult, the juvenile faces adult-range penalties, including long-term imprisonment. A separate option, determinate sentencing, allows the state to seek a sentence that begins in the Texas Juvenile Justice Department and can transfer to the adult prison system for up to 40 years on qualifying offenses, while adjudication still occurs in juvenile court. Defending against certification or a determinate sentence is among the most consequential work a juvenile defense attorney does. The outcome of that hearing can shape everything that follows.
Our Approach: Dismissal First, Record Protection Always
Our goal in every juvenile case is to first seek dismissal of the charges. Where dismissal isn’t possible, we work toward outcomes that can keep the matter off the juvenile’s record. That goal matters even for minor charges. Theft, for example, is classified as a crime of moral turpitude and can limit future educational, employment, and professional licensing opportunities long after a case closes.
Allen Blake has been a member of the State Bar of Texas Juvenile Law Section since 2015: a sustained commitment to this area of defense, not a sideline practice. His wife works at Alliance for Children, a children’s advocacy center serving the Fort Worth area, reflecting a personal connection to child welfare in this community. When your family is facing juvenile charges, we treat it with the attention it deserves.
Juvenile Offenses in Tarrant County
Under Texas law, a juvenile is any person who is at least 10 years old but under 17. At 17, the law treats a person as an adult in the criminal system regardless of the offense. The Tarrant County juvenile system handles conduct ranging from misdemeanor-level matters to serious felonies.
Conduct Indicating a Need for Supervision (CINS), which covers status offenses such as truancy, running away, and school expulsion violations
Serious felony charges such as aggravated assault, robbery, and drug delivery can trigger determinate sentencing or certification proceedings. Having a juvenile defense lawyer in Fort Worth involved early can affect how those proceedings unfold.
How the Tarrant County Juvenile Process Works
The Tarrant County juvenile process moves through several distinct stages, and what happens at each one can affect every stage that follows. When a juvenile is taken into custody, they are typically brought to the Scott D. Moore Juvenile Justice Center, and a parent or guardian must be promptly notified.
Detention Hearing
Under the Texas Family Code, a detention hearing must be held no later than the second working day after a juvenile is taken into custody. The judge decides whether to release the juvenile to a parent or guardian or hold them in detention. There is no bail system in juvenile court. The judge considers the likelihood the juvenile will appear for future hearings, available supervision at home, whether the juvenile poses a danger to others, and prior adjudication history.
Filing Decision & Deferred Prosecution
Before a petition is formally filed, the Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney’s Office may decline to file charges. That decision can be conditioned on the juvenile entering Deferred Prosecution supervision, a structured program that can avoid a formal adjudication if completed successfully. Early attorney involvement can influence this outcome.
Adjudication & Disposition
If a petition is filed, an adjudication hearing follows. It functions like a trial: the state must prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt, and the juvenile has the right to a jury. If the juvenile is found to have engaged in the alleged conduct, a separate disposition hearing determines the outcome. Possible dispositions include probation, commitment to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, or a determinate sentence for qualifying offenses.
Juvenile Records & Sealing in Texas
Juvenile records in Texas are restricted by default, but restricted doesn’t mean sealed. Certain agencies, schools, and prosecutors can still access them. The most effective protection for a young person’s future is avoiding an adjudication altogether, through dismissal, a no-file decision, or successful completion of Deferred Prosecution.
When an adjudication does occur, Texas law allows many juvenile records to be sealed. Eligibility and timing depend on the nature of the offense and how the case resolved. One important exception: a juvenile adjudication for a felony offense committed after January 1, 1996, that resulted in commitment to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department may be treated as a felony conviction for enhancement purposes if the person is later charged as an adult. Sealing is a separate legal proceeding with specific eligibility requirements, and an attorney can evaluate whether a prior juvenile matter qualifies.
“I highly recommend Allen Blake. He strives for results and seeks the best possible outcome.”
Allen Blake defines what an attorney is supposed to be. Mr. Blake went above and beyond to resolve my issue in Texas. There was daily communication and empathized with my concerns being so far away. As my case progressed in litigation, Mr. Blake kept me updated via text messages, e-mails, and phone calls. He explained every possible outcome thoroughly and provided me with the best option. If it wasn’t for Mr. Blake, I do not know where I would be today. I highly recommend Allen Blake. He strives for results and seeks the best possible outcome.
