Connecticut Office of Chief Public Defender Rockville Juvenile Matters Offices

The Connecticut Office of Chief Public Defender Rockville Juvenile Matters Office is a branch chief public defender office for the state of Connecticut. It is located in the city of Rockville. In Connecticut, Juvenile Courts handle cases for children under the age of eighteen who have been charged with a crime. This office deals with legal defense matters regarding the Connecticut judicial branch section. Seven is the minimum age to have the capacity to commit a crime and be sent to juvenile court accused of being a delinquent. Delinquent is what the courts call a child who has been accused or convicted of a crime in juvenile court. If you or a loved one are over the age of 15, any felony charge could be transferred to the adult court. Suppose you are charged with a very serious offense (Class A and some Class B felonies). In that case, your case will be automatically transferred. If you are charged with a lesser felony, the prosecutor can ask the court to move your case to the adult court. You have the right to a hearing before that happens. The legal term for your first court appearance is "arraignment." It is where you are formally charged with a crime and read your rights. If you have applied for the Public Defender and you qualify, they will be appointed at your arraignment. Your lawyer will enter a not guilty plea for you. This is called a pro forma denial. This is a formality and lets the case move on for a discussion of what might happen next in your case. The arraignment is where your lawyer can argue to have you released from detention if you are locked up or where the prosecutor might ask for the judge to give you some rules to follow. If you have any questions about this organization, please use the contact information on the right-hand side of the page.