Juvenile Defense Attorney in Milwaukee

Personal Case Investigation for Every Juvenile Delinquency Matter

When a child faces delinquency charges, the decisions made in the early days of the case can shape the outcome far more than most families realize. I approach every juvenile defense matter the way I approach every criminal defense case: with a thorough investigation of the specific facts, direct attention to the individuals involved, and a strategy built around what actually happened rather than a standard playbook. With hundreds of criminal cases behind me, I bring an informed perspective to the mechanics of Wisconsin’s juvenile system that families navigating Children’s Court for the first time rarely have.

If your child has been arrested or charged with a delinquent act in the Milwaukee area, call me at (414) 375-0797 for a free initial case evaluation. The earlier I can review the facts, the more options may be available.

How Wisconsin’s Chapter 938 Juvenile Justice Code Works

Wisconsin Chapter 938, the Juvenile Justice Code, governs three broad categories: delinquency, juvenile in need of protection or services (JIPS), and ordinance violations. Juvenile court has exclusive jurisdiction over anyone 10 or older alleged to be delinquent, with limited statutory exceptions. Because Wisconsin treats a person as an adult for criminal law purposes at age 17, offenses committed before that birthday are typically handled as juvenile matters.

In Milwaukee County, delinquency cases are heard at Children’s Court at the Vel R. Phillips Youth and Family Justice Center. Not every youthful offense is a delinquent act. Behaviors such as habitual truancy or uncontrollable conduct are non-criminal status offenses handled on a separate track under the same code.

Waiver to Adult Court: What Families Need to Understand

One of the highest-stakes decisions in a juvenile case is whether the matter stays in Children’s Court or moves to adult criminal court. Under Wisconsin Statute 938.18, a juvenile who is 14 or older may be waived into adult court after a formal waiver hearing. At that hearing, the court weighs the juvenile’s prior record, the seriousness of the alleged offense, and whether the juvenile system has adequate treatment options. These are fact-specific findings, and the outcome isn’t predetermined.

Certain very serious offenses bypass this process entirely. Under Wisconsin Statute 938.183, those charges originate in adult criminal court under original adult jurisdiction from the start. It’s also worth noting that juvenile delinquency adjudications in Wisconsin are decided by a judge, not a jury, consistent with the U.S. Supreme Court’s holding in McKeiver v. Pennsylvania.

Possible Dispositions After a Delinquency Adjudication

If a juvenile is adjudicated delinquent, Wisconsin Statute 938.34 authorizes a wide range of court-ordered dispositions. The least restrictive options include counseling and supervision by an agency or a suitable adult. Correctional placement is authorized only when the underlying act would carry a sentence of six months or more if committed by an adult and the juvenile is found to need restrictive custodial treatment. For juveniles 14 or older adjudicated for specific serious offenses, the serious juvenile offender program under 938.34(4h) may apply. A delinquency adjudication involving certain sexual offenses can also carry mandatory sex offender registration consequences.

Dispositions depend heavily on the record built before and during the hearing. How I investigate and present your child’s case matters at each stage, not just at adjudication.

Juvenile Records: Confidentiality & Expungement in Milwaukee County

Children’s Court records in Milwaukee County aren’t public records. A judge’s written approval is required before outside parties can access them. That confidentiality matters, but it isn’t permanent protection on its own.

Under Wisconsin Statute 938.355(4m)(a), a juvenile adjudicated delinquent may petition the court to expunge the adjudication record upon turning 17. The court may grant that petition only after finding that the juvenile satisfactorily complied with the dispositional order and that expungement may benefit the juvenile without harming society. An expunged record is sealed from public court access, though it doesn’t automatically remove information held by other agencies. What expungement can and can’t accomplish is part of the planning I do with families from the start.

Why Families Across Milwaukee Work With The Law Offices of Jason D. Baltz

I don’t apply a one-size-fits-all approach to juvenile cases. The facts that determine whether a matter ends in diversion, a consent decree, or a dispositional order are specific to your child’s situation. I gather evidence, interview witnesses, and examine the record before drawing any conclusions about strategy. That process is the same whether I’m handling a misdemeanor-level act or a case where the state is seeking waiver to adult court.

My focus throughout each case is protecting your child’s rights and keeping the door open to the best possible future. Families choose to work with me because I treat their concerns as priorities and stay accountable to the case from the first call through the final order.

Talk to a Milwaukee Juvenile Defense Lawyer Today

If your child has been charged or is under investigation, don’t wait to get legal guidance. I offer a free initial case evaluation so you can understand where things stand and what steps may be available. Call (414) 375-0797 or use the contact form on this site to reach The Law Offices of Jason D. Baltz and schedule your consultation.