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Your Child Was Arrested. Here's What You Need to Do Right Now.

The next 48 hours matter more than most parents realize. In Pennsylvania, juvenile delinquency cases move quickly — hearings are scheduled fast, and what happens before an attorney gets involved can shape the entire outcome. If your teenager was just arrested or is under investigation in Franklin County, call before you do anything else. I'll walk you through exactly what comes next.

How Pennsylvania Juvenile Court Actually Works — and Why It's Different from Adult Court

Pennsylvania's juvenile justice system operates under a separate legal framework from adult criminal court, and those differences can work in your child's favor when someone understands how to use them. An adjudication of delinquency is not a criminal conviction. It does not carry the same public record consequences, and in many cases, it can be sealed. Understanding the distinction — and making sure the court applies it correctly — is one of the most important things a juvenile defense attorney does.

 

Here are the key stages in a Pennsylvania juvenile delinquency case:

 

  • Intake and detention decision: After an arrest, the juvenile probation office evaluates whether the child should be detained or released to parents pending a hearing. Early intervention by an attorney can influence this decision.
  • Adjudicatory hearing: This is the juvenile equivalent of a trial. The judge determines whether the juvenile committed the alleged act — there is no jury. The standard is proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
  • Consent decree: Before adjudication, the DA and defense can agree to a consent decree — a supervised diversion that, if completed successfully, results in the case being dismissed without an adjudication on record. This is one of the most favorable outcomes available and worth pursuing aggressively when the facts support it.
  • Disposition hearing: If the juvenile is adjudicated delinquent, the court holds a separate disposition hearing — the juvenile equivalent of sentencing. Options range from probation and community service to structured programs and, in serious cases, residential placement.
  • Juvenile probation: The most common disposition. Conditions vary by case, but violations carry real consequences, including commitment to a placement facility.
  • Residential placement: Reserved for more serious matters or repeat adjudications. Fighting hard at the adjudicatory stage — and at disposition — is the best way to keep this off the table.

The Charges I Handle Most Often in Franklin County Juvenile Court

Juvenile delinquency charges in Franklin County cover a wide range of conduct. The cases I handle most frequently involve theft, simple assault, drug possession, disorderly conduct, and vandalism. I also handle situations where a single incident generates both delinquency charges for the juvenile and criminal charges for an adult involved in the same matter — a scenario that requires coordinated defense across both systems simultaneously.

What to Do — and What Not to Do — After a Juvenile Arrest

The most important instruction I can give any parent: do not let your child speak to police without an attorney present. Juveniles have the same Fifth Amendment rights as adults, and anything said during questioning can be used in the adjudicatory hearing. Officers are trained to conduct interviews — teenagers are not trained to navigate them. Politely declining to answer questions until counsel is present is not an admission of guilt. It is the correct legal move.

 

Beyond that, document everything you remember about the arrest — the time, the location, what officers said, and what your child told you. Preserve any text messages or social media content that may be relevant. Then call an attorney before the first hearing date arrives.

Adult Certification: What It Is and How I Fight It

Adult certification — sometimes called transfer to adult court — is the process by which the district attorney seeks to have a juvenile tried as an adult. For parents, it is one of the most frightening possibilities in a juvenile case. For good reason: a conviction in adult court carries a permanent criminal record, adult sentencing ranges, and consequences that follow a young person for life.

 

In Pennsylvania, the DA must meet a specific legal standard to transfer a case. The court weighs factors including the nature of the offense, the juvenile's prior record, the availability of treatment within the juvenile system, and whether the juvenile is amenable to rehabilitation. That last factor is critical — and it's where a well-prepared defense can make the difference. I appear at transfer hearings prepared to argue that the juvenile system has the tools to address the conduct and that adult court is not warranted. Transfer is not automatic, and it is not inevitable. It is a legal question, and I fight it as one.

Why Franklin County Families Work with Kevin Taccino

Franklin County Juvenile Court has its own procedural culture, its own judges, and its own expectations. I have appeared in that courtroom as both court-appointed counsel and private defense attorney for two decades. That familiarity is not incidental — it shapes how I prepare cases, how I communicate with probation officers, and how I approach disposition arguments on behalf of my clients.

 

I handle criminal defense, juvenile law, and family law. When a juvenile matter intersects with a parent's criminal case, a custody dispute, or a CYS investigation — which happens more often than most people expect — I can manage all of it without requiring a family to coordinate between multiple attorneys. That matters when the stakes are high and the timeline is tight.

 

  • 20 years in private practice in south-central Pennsylvania
  • Court-appointed by Franklin County in juvenile delinquency and dependency matters
  • Trial-tested representation — not limited to plea agreements and consent decrees
  • Handles overlapping criminal, juvenile, and family matters under single-attorney coverage
  • Consultation fee credited toward retainer if you choose to retain

Frequently Asked Questions About Juvenile Delinquency Cases in Pennsylvania

  • What happens when a juvenile is charged with a crime in Pennsylvania?

    After an arrest, the case is referred to the juvenile probation office, which makes an initial recommendation about detention and schedules a hearing before a juvenile court judge. The process moves faster than adult criminal court — hearings can be scheduled within days — which is why retaining an attorney immediately after an arrest is critical.

  • Is a juvenile adjudication the same as a criminal conviction?

    No. An adjudication of delinquency is a finding that the juvenile committed a delinquent act — it is not a criminal conviction under Pennsylvania law. Juvenile records are generally not public and can often be sealed, which is one of the most significant protections the juvenile system offers. Protecting that distinction is a core part of what I do in every case.

  • What is a consent decree and how does it help my child?

    A consent decree is a pre-adjudication agreement in which the juvenile is placed under supervision for a set period. If the juvenile completes the conditions successfully, the case is dismissed without any adjudication on record. It is one of the best outcomes available in a juvenile case and worth pursuing whenever the circumstances and the DA's position make it a realistic option.

  • Can my child be tried as an adult in Pennsylvania?

    Yes, under certain conditions — but it requires the DA to meet a legal standard at a transfer hearing, and it is not automatic. The court considers factors including the seriousness of the offense, the juvenile's history, and whether the juvenile is amenable to treatment within the juvenile system. I appear at transfer hearings prepared to challenge certification and argue that the juvenile court is the appropriate venue.

  • Should I let my child talk to police after an arrest?

    No. Juveniles have the same right to remain silent as adults, and exercising that right is the correct move in every case. Politely declining to answer questions until an attorney is present does not hurt the case — it protects it. Call me before your child speaks to anyone in an official capacity.

Facing a Juvenile Delinquency Matter in Franklin County? Call Today.

A juvenile arrest is not the end of the road — but the decisions made in the first few days can determine where that road leads. I represent families throughout Franklin County and surrounding counties in juvenile delinquency proceedings, from the initial hearing through disposition. Consultations are available for families in active matters, and the consultation fee is credited toward your retainer if you choose to retain me.