Juvenile Defense Attorney in Gillette, Wyoming

One juvenile charge can follow your child into scholarship applications, military enlistment, and that first real job. In Campbell County, some youth cases are even filed in courts where the record is public from day one. What you do in the first few days often decides where the case lands and how it ends.

Just Criminal Law defends children and teens throughout Campbell County. Our founder, Christina L. Williams is a former prosecutor, and our office has been in Gillette since 2009, just down the street from the courthouse where juvenile cases are heard.

If Your Child Was Charged or Questioned in Gillette, Start Here

Maybe it was a citation from school or a late-night phone call from the police. In any case, these steps will help protect your family:

• Get there and remain calm. If your child has been taken into custody, the Wyoming law requires the police to notify a parent or legal guardian as soon as possible.
• Don’t allow your child to talk alone. Ask the police to stop questioning until you have spoken with a lawyer.
• Don’t try to explain anything yourself. Anything a parent says can end up in the police report.
• Write down everything – names, times, and all paperwork.

How Wyoming Juvenile Court Works vs. Adult Court

Wyoming handles most youth cases under the Juvenile Justice Act, which is part of Title 14 of the state’s laws. The adult court system is focused on punishment, while the juvenile court focuses on supervision, treatment, and accountability. The vocabulary used in these systems is also different:

• Delinquent act – An act that would be considered a crime if committed by an adult.
• Adjudication – The juvenile version of a finding of guilt, which is not the same as a criminal conviction.
• Disposition – The juvenile equivalent of a sentence, which may include treatment programs or other measures.
• Status offense – Something that is only considered illegal because of a person’s age, such as curfew or truancy, and usually goes through a separate process called Children in Need of Supervision (CHINS).

Delinquency Petitions and Which Court Hears the Case

A juvenile case officially begins when the prosecutor files a petition for delinquency. Under W.S. 14-6-203, the prosecutor reviews every case involving a minor and chooses the court. In Campbell County, this means one of three options:

• Juvenile Court: heard by the Sixth Judicial District Court on the top floor of the Campbell County Courthouse, 500 S. Gillette Avenue. Hearings are closed to the public, and records are confidential.
• Campbell County Circuit Court: Many teen misdemeanors, such as underage alcohol possession or shoplifting, can be heard here.
• Gillette Municipal Court: City ordinance violations can be cited to municipal court.

Hearings, Timelines and Possible Outcomes

• Detention hearing: If your child is detained, the hearing will take place within 48 hours.
• Initial hearing: The judge will explain the petition and your child’s rights at this hearing. Your child will then admit or deny the allegations.
• Team meeting: Before the court, Campbell County Juvenile Probation will hold a multidisciplinary team meeting to make recommendations for your child.
• Adjudicatory hearing: This hearing will usually take place within 60 days after a denial, but never more than 90 days after the petition was filed.
• Disposition: Depending on the circumstances, your child may be placed on probation, ordered to perform community service, pay restitution, or receive counseling. In more serious cases, they may be removed from their home.

Can a Juvenile Case Be Moved to Adult Court?

Yes, in some cases, age and the severity of the charge determine what happens.

• If the person is under 13, the juvenile court has exclusive jurisdiction for felonies and other serious misdemeanors, and these cases remain in the juvenile court system.
• For those aged 13 and over, most cases begin in the juvenile court, but the judge can transfer them to adult court after a hearing if they deem it appropriate.
• Prosecutors can also directly file cases in adult court for 17-year-olds charged with felonies, 14-year-olds or older charged with violent felonies, or 14-year-olds who have faced two prior felony-level charges as juveniles.

Transfer Hearing Basics

Under W.S. 14-6-237, parents must receive written notice at least three days before the transfer hearing. There is no jury. The judge considers seven factors, including the seriousness of the offense, whether it was violent or premeditated, your child’s age and record, and whether juvenile services can realistically rehabilitate them.

School, Sports and Record Consequences

The court case is just one aspect. Parents are often surprised by other aspects:

• College, military, and jobs: applications might ask about arrests and court records, and circuit court convictions are public information.
• School discipline: suspensions and expulsions run separately. The court can share relevant information about the case with your child’s school for disciplinary decisions.
• Sports and activities: teams have their own rules of conduct, and a citation could mean sitting out until the court case starts.
• Driving: alcohol and drug charges could lead to license problems.