Areas of Practice
Los Angeles Criminal Defense - Juvenile Cases
Mr. Rubenstein is one of the few private defense attorneys in Los Angeles with extensive experience in handling Juvenile cases. As a Prosecutor, Mr. Rubenstein spent two years in a Juvenile assignment, and has conducted over one hundred juvenile trials.
Mr. Rubenstein is also a Professor of Juvenile Justice at the graduate level and teaches to law enforcement through National University.
The juvenile justice system is very different from the adult system. “Petitions”, not “complaints’, are filed against the “Minor” and not the defendant. The proceedings are governed by the Welfare and Institutions code as opposed to the Penal code. The proceedings are private and not open to the public. Minors are referred to by their first name and last initial (for example: David M.).
Juveniles are not sentenced. A Petition is either “Sustained” or “Denied”. Once a Petition is sustained, the Judge has wide desertion, as does the Probation department. Often, if a petition is sustained, the “Minor” is made a “Ward of the Court” pursuant to Welfare and Institution code section 602.
The judge can then decide from several options. First he can send a Minor “Home on Probation” which is just like it sounds. If treatment is indicated, a minor can be “Suitably Placed”. More serious offenders can be sent to either “Short-term” or “Long-Term” “Camp Community Placement”. The most serious offenders can be sent to “California Youth Authority”.
The most serious consequence for a Juvenile offender is that they can, in certain instances be TRIED AS AN ADULT. If this happens a Juvenile “Fitness Hearing” is held to determine if the Juvenile or adult system is best suited to handle the case.
Mr. Rubenstein can help ensure that your child is either kept out of this system entirely, or handled correctly by offering alternatives to having you child removed from the home.
Mr. Rubenstein knows this system and is well known and respected in it.