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Understanding California’s Juvenile Three Strikes Law and Long-Term Consequences
When your teenager faces serious criminal charges in Orange County, understanding California’s juvenile three strikes law can feel overwhelming. At The Law Office of Katie Walsh, Orange County juvenile defense lawyer Katie Walsh brings 9 years of experience from the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, where she prosecuted serious juvenile cases at Lamoreaux Justice Center, including 707(b) strike offenses. This experience gives her unique insight into how district attorneys build juvenile strike allegations and which defenses a skilled juvenile lawyer can use to protect your child’s future.
How California’s Juvenile Three Strikes Law Works
California’s three strikes law for juveniles applies to teens aged 16 or 17 who commit serious offenses listed in Welfare and Institutions Code Section 707(b). Unlike adult strikes that accumulate over a lifetime, juvenile strikes only count if your child is adjudicated (found guilty) of certain violent felonies while still in the juvenile system. These strikes follow them into adulthood, potentially doubling their sentence for a second felony conviction or triggering a 25-years-to-life sentence for a third.
A competent juvenile strike defense lawyer knows that not every serious offense qualifies as a strike. The prosecution must prove four elements: your child was 16 or older at the time, the crime is on the 707(b) offense list, it would be a felony if committed by an adult, and the juvenile court finds it qualifies as a juvenile strike.
707(b) Offenses That Count as Juvenile Strikes in California
Understanding which crimes trigger strike allegations helps you grasp what your family is facing. Having prosecuted these cases at the Orange County DA’s Office, we know exactly how prosecutors approach 707(b) charges and where defenses exist.
Strike-eligible offenses include:
- Murder or attempted murder
- Arson causing great bodily injury
- Robbery with weapon use or great bodily injury
- Rape or forcible sexual offenses
- Kidnapping for ransom, robbery, or sexual purposes
- Assault with a firearm on a peace officer
- Discharge of a firearm into an inhabited building
- Manufacturing, selling, or furnishing specific controlled substances
These charges carry immediate consequences in juvenile court and create a criminal history record that extends into adulthood. Many parents don’t realize their 16-year-old’s adjudication can affect sentencing decades later.
Long-Term Consequences of a Juvenile Strike in California
A juvenile strike doesn’t disappear when your child turns 18. If your child receives a strike adjudication in juvenile court, that strike counts toward California’s three strikes law for any future felony convictions in adult court. This means a mistake made at 16 can result in doubled sentences at 25 or even a life sentence at 35.
Beyond the sentencing implications, strike offenses on a juvenile record create barriers to education, employment, and housing. While California law allows sealing of juvenile records under certain circumstances through Welfare and Institutions Code Section 781, strike offenses face stricter scrutiny and may be more difficult to seal.
Talk to an Orange County Juvenile Defense Attorney About Strike Allegations
If your teenager faces charges that could result in a strike adjudication, you need an Orange County juvenile defense lawyer who understands both sides of the courtroom. Attorney Katie Walsh has handled these cases from both perspectives, prosecuting serious juvenile offenses at the Orange County District Attorney’s Office and now defending teenagers at Lamoreaux Justice Center. With 85 trials in felony and misdemeanor matters, we know which defense strategies work. Call The Law Office of Katie Walsh at (714) 351-0178 or contact us online today.
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