Juvenile Prosecution

Attorneys in our juvenile division prosecute juvenile offenders (children aged 10-17) who break the law within St. Louis County.  In addition to public safety concerns, the juvenile prosecutor must consider the particular needs of the juvenile. Our juvenile attorneys handle cases ranging from petty offenses (e.g., tobacco and alcohol) to murder in the first degree.  As part of the charging process, the prosecutor must also decide whether to file motions to certify a child to stand trial as an adult or motions to designate the child an Extended Jurisdiction Juvenile (EJJ). These decisions are based on the severity of the offense as well as the child's age, prior offense and programming history. Certification cases may be retained in the juvenile unit through trial and sentencing.