Juvenile Defense Lawyer in El Paso

Keep a mistake at sixteen from following your child into adulthood.

Call the office (915) 485-9100Free review, no obligation. Hablamos español.

What we handle

All juvenile offenses. Every one of these is tried in El Paso courts.

All juvenile offenses

Juvenile court runs on its own code, with its own terminology and consequences, and is meant to be rehabilitative rather than punitive.

Nothing about the case should be discussed at school.

Detention hearings

A detention hearing comes quickly after a child is taken in, and repeats at intervals. It decides where the child waits, which shapes everything after it.

Bring a parent, a school schedule, and a concrete plan for supervision.

School-related charges

Conduct at school can move through school discipline and the juvenile court at the same time, on separate tracks with separate deadlines.

Request the discipline records and any video before it is overwritten.

Deferred prosecution

A supervised agreement can close the case without a finding if the terms are met. It is usually available early and rarely available late.

Ask about it at the first setting, not the third.

Sealing juvenile records

Juvenile records are not automatically private. Sealing is a separate filing with its own eligibility rules and waiting periods.

Check eligibility as soon as the case ends, not years later.

Certification as an adult

For serious offenses the State can ask to move a child into adult court. That hearing is the most consequential one in juvenile law.

Get a lawyer involved immediately. This is not a hearing to face unprepared.

Questions people ask before they hire anyone

General information about Texas procedure, not legal advice about your matter.

More on juvenile law

All articles

Juvenile law

Can a juvenile record be sealed in TexasMany Texas juvenile records can be sealed, some automatically and some only on application. What sealing covers, what it misses, and which are excluded.August 28, 2026 Juvenile law

What happens when a child is arrested in TexasTexas juvenile cases run in their own system. An intake officer decides release, a detention hearing comes fast, and a parent cannot waive those rights.August 14, 2026

Tell us what happened.

The review is free, the call comes from a partner, and you will get a straight answer either way. Even if the answer is that you do not need us.

Call the office (915) 485-9100 705 Texas Ave #100, El Paso, TX 79901

# Juvenile Defense Lawyer in El Paso > Keep a mistake at sixteen from following your child into adulthood. Wyatt, Underwood & Grasheim handles all juvenile offenses in El Paso, Texas, licensed in Texas and New Mexico. One of the three partners takes the file and carries it start to finish. Call [(915) 485-9100](tel:+19154859100) for a free case review. Hablamos español. ## My kid got arrested. What now? Texas juvenile cases are handled separately from adult court, and the stated goal is rehabilitation rather than punishment. A record can still follow a child into school discipline, job applications and immigration decisions. Detention hearings move within days of arrest, so the first days matter more than the outcome date. Juvenile cases sit in a different court under different rules, and that system is meant to be about the child rather than the punishment. It only works out that way when somebody is in the room arguing for it. ## What we handle All juvenile offenses. Every one of these is tried in El Paso courts. ### All juvenile offenses Juvenile court runs on its own code, with its own terminology and consequences, and is meant to be rehabilitative rather than punitive. First move: Nothing about the case should be discussed at school. ### Detention hearings A detention hearing comes quickly after a child is taken in, and repeats at intervals. It decides where the child waits, which shapes everything after it. First move: Bring a parent, a school schedule, and a concrete plan for supervision. ### School-related charges Conduct at school can move through school discipline and the juvenile court at the same time, on separate tracks with separate deadlines. First move: Request the discipline records and any video before it is overwritten. ### Deferred prosecution A supervised agreement can close the case without a finding if the terms are met. It is usually available early and rarely available late. First move: Ask about it at the first setting, not the third. ### Sealing juvenile records Juvenile records are not automatically private. Sealing is a separate filing with its own eligibility rules and waiting periods. First move: Check eligibility as soon as the case ends, not years later. ### Certification as an adult For serious offenses the State can ask to move a child into adult court. That hearing is the most consequential one in juvenile law. First move: Get a lawyer involved immediately. This is not a hearing to face unprepared. ## What the firm actually does with the file ## Questions people ask before they hire anyone ### What happens when a child is detained in El Paso County? Texas juvenile jurisdiction generally covers conduct by a child at least 10 and under 17. If the child is not released, a detention hearing generally has to happen by the second working day after detention, with special timing when a child is detained on a Friday or Saturday. Keep every piece of paper, and do not coach the child's account. ### Can a Texas juvenile be tried as an adult? In specified felony cases a juvenile court can waive its jurisdiction and transfer the case to adult court, after investigation and a hearing. The minimum age is generally 14 for certain capital, first degree and aggravated controlled substance felonies, and 15 for other eligible felonies. Transfer is not automatic. ## More on juvenile law - [Can a juvenile record be sealed in Texas](/insights/sealing-a-juvenile-record-texas): Many Texas juvenile records can be sealed, some automatically and some only on application. What sealing covers, what it misses, and which are excluded. (statutes checked 2026-09-14) - [What happens when a child is arrested in Texas](/insights/child-arrested-texas-what-happens): Texas juvenile cases run in their own system. An intake officer decides release, a detention hearing comes fast, and a parent cannot waive those rights. (statutes checked 2026-09-14) All of them: [Insights](/insights) ## Talk to a partner The case review is free, the call comes from a partner, and you get a straight answer either way. Even if the answer is that you do not need us. Call [(915) 485-9100](tel:+19154859100) or use the chat at the bottom right of any page. Hablamos español. Wyatt, Underwood & Grasheim 705 Texas Ave #100 El Paso, TX 79901 [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=705+Texas+Ave+%23100%2C+El+Paso%2C+TX+79901) General information about Texas procedure, not legal advice about your matter. Reading this page does not make the firm your lawyer. See the [Terms of Use](/terms).