The Santa Clara County Public Defender Office represents juveniles
who appear in juvenile justice court, from their first court appearance until
the case has been concluded and/or supervision ends. Our role is to defend juveniles
against all allegations by evaluating the
charges, conducting proper investigation, exploring all possible defenses and
vigorously advocating on behalf of the juvenile in court proceedings. Our
advocacy extends to ensure that the needs of the juvenile are met through
education, guidance, and treatment consistent with their best
interest.
You may be visiting this site because you or a loved one is or may be involved with the juvenile justice system in Santa Clara County. Or perhaps you are interested in learning more
about the Santa Clara County juvenile justice system and the Public Defender Office’s role in it. Regardless of the
reason you are visiting our site, we thank you for visiting our site and hope
you find the content helpful and informative.
Throughout this site, you will learn how juveniles are treated
differently than adults accused of violating criminal law, and how juveniles
are treated differently in the juvenile justice system depending on their age. You can also find information about what
happens to juveniles when contacted and cited by police and about the
Public Defender Office team members who support juveniles involved in the criminal justice system. The site will also take you through many
elements of the court process and potential outcomes in Juvenile Justice Court. Lastly, you
can visit a page of frequently asked questions (FAQs) for answers to
specific questions you may have.
To find all the information relating to juvenile justice on
our site, please visit the following pages:
Juvenile Justice: Kids are Different
Origination of a Case in the Juvenile Justice System
Case Proceedings in Court
Juvenile Diversion, Dispositions and Conditions
Juvenile Justice Frequently Asked Questions
