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VIB Law

VIB Law

Valencia, Ippolito & Bowman

Juvenile Crime Defense Lawyers

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San Jose’s Best Juvenile Defense Attorneys

If you have the misfortune of having a child or loved one, under the age of 18, arrested or being investigated for a crime, it can be very stressful and life changing. The stress and anxiety is worse if they are taken to Juvenile Hall. There is always the concern about their safety and mental and emotional well being.

It is very important to retain a qualified experienced juvenile defense attorney. The criminal procedures and implementation of criminal prosecution differs from adult cases. The focus of both adult and juvenile cases is essentially the same; avoiding convictions and the negative results when resolving cases. However, Juvenile cases are treated quite differently, even from the outset. If the juvenile is taken to juvenile hall and incarcerated, they are not entitled to bail, unlike adult cases. The minor is held in custody for two to three days before his/her first court date. This is called the detention hearing. At that hearing, the Judge may order the minor released or keep the minor locked up until the next court date which could be up to three weeks later. Again, the minor is not entitled to bail out of custody. That is why it is extremely important to have a lawyer familiar with the detention hearing process and the factors Judge’s consider to determine if they will release the minor from custody.

Patrick Valencia, in addition to working in the Juvenile Hall, has been practicing in the Juvenile courts for 41 years. He has been asked to sit in as a Judge on juvenile cases when a Judge calls in sick or goes on vacation. He has been listed as the top Juvenile Defense Attorney in Santa Clara County by the San Jose Magazine.

Client Reviews

  • My Negative Thoughts Vanished

    After getting out of jail, I needed an experienced attorney to defend me. At the time, my options appeared limited and the likelihood of a satisfactory resolution seemed impossible. The moment my family and I met with Riccardo, most of my negative thoughts vanished, leaving me with peace of mind. I was innocent but I…

  • Able to Prove My Innocence

    Child Molestation Charges DISMISSED!!! AMAZING attorney!!! I hired Mr.Ippolito for representation in my child molestation case. I was being accused of having molested my OWN children which has NEVER even been a THOUGHT in my mind. Mr.Ippolito was able to prove my innocence to the DA and was able to get all charges dropped. If…

  • 290 Sex Registration List Removal in 6 months

    I was stuck on the Sex Offender Registry for 29 years for a misdemeanor offense I committed in 1994. You can’t live a normal life when you’re stuck on the registry. I contacted Riccardo and he got me off the list in six months. Now my long nightmare is finally over. The cloud of despair…

Allowing your child to Speak With the Police

If your child is charged or being investigate for a crime, the police will want to talk to him or her. You should never allow that to happen without consulting with an experienced attorney. The police have common tactics to get the minor to talk to them. The tactics include making offers of leniency (“tell what happened and I will let you go home”) and even outright lying. Even o casual conversation with the police could result in misunderstanding of what was said or a misrepresentation of what was said. The conversation will be used against your child in court even if it is exaggerated, incorrect, or not true. I always tell my clients to tell the police the following:” My lawyer is Patrick Valencia and he instructed me not to talk without him here. Here is his number and he is happy to talk to you about my case”. The police will honor that and not speak to your child.

Again, it is important to consult with an experienced juvenile defense attorney when your child is charged with a crime or is being investigated for one. Contact Patrick Valencia at VIB Law (www.viblaw.com), 408-920-9720. He is happy to discuss your child’s case and the issues involved.

Why not start exploring your options?

Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.

Legal Defenses Against Juvenile Crime Charges

There are numerous alternatives that can be considered when dealing with juvenile law violations. They include avoiding court altogether if the minor agrees to follow certain rules and meet some specific conditions. If the charge is not overly serious and it is the juvenile’s first offense, the probation officer may allow the minor to avoid court if he/she agrees to a curfew, attends school with no tardies or unexcused absences. There may be other conditions but they generally are not difficult to obey. This will allow the minor to stay home, go to school and avoid numerous court appearances.

A minor charged with serous crimes is facing far more serous punishment than those with lesser charges. There are two departments that are responsible for the prosecution of the minor; the Office of the District Attorney and the Juvenile Probation Department. Both of those offices will want strict punishment for serious cases. They both will urge the Judge to impose custody time for the minor. It is the attorney’s job to explore alternatives to being locked up. These alternatives include seeking out community programs that will address the child’s needs, help for the minor at school, mental health therapy and other programs designed for rehabilitation.

By hiring one of our expert juvenile defense attorneys early on in the process, we may be able to present evidence to the DA’s office that was ignored or overlooked by the investigating officer. This early intervention can be critical in terms of whether or not charges are filed. We can also meet with you early in the process to discuss how best to mitigate your case. We can advise you on issues such as how to gather character letters, whether it is a good idea to get into counseling or other case specific mitigators.

70+ Years of Combined Experience.
Aggressive, Proactive Client-Centered.
Advice You Can Trust.

About VIB Law

When your freedom, your reputation and your career are on the line, you owe it to yourself and your family to have the best possible defense, and the most experienced lawyer defending you.

With over 70 years of combined criminal law experience, VIB Law is the largest and most successful criminal defense firm in Northern California. Our partners have consistently been recognized for excellence in their fields of practice. Partner Riccardo Ippolito won the “Top Lawyers In California” award presented by American Lawyer Media. Partner Patrick Valencia is a winner of the, “Juvenile Attorney of the Year” award presented by San Jose Magazine.

When the stakes are this high, why would you go with an “average” law firm?

Our Attorneys

Patrick Valencia

Patrick Valencia

Riccardo Ippolito

Riccardo Ippolito

Patrick Valencia has worked in the juvenile court system for over 46 years. He worked inside Juvenile Hall for 7 years before and during law school. He has a deep understanding of the juvenile criminal laws and the juvenile hall policies. At the outset of the case, the focus is primarily on getting the minor released from custody. There are several factors that are important in both the detention hearing stage as well as when the charges are being contested. The many factors include the minor’s education history, learning disabilities, difficult home environment, mental health issues, etc. All these factors need to be brought to the attention of the Judge, prosecutors, and probation department so the minor can be dealt with fairly and with compassion rather than punishment. The focus on juvenile cases, unlike most adult cases, is on rehabilitation rather than punishment. Judges need to be reminded of this when they preside over your child’s case. Always remember, the prosecutor will always want punishment, severe punishment. It is the attorneys job to offer the court several alternatives to punishment.

Contact Us Today

Phone: 408-920-9720      |     
Toll Free: 877-766-5245

VIB Law
675 N 1st Street, Ste 790
San Jose, California 95112

We proudly serve clients in the following SF Bay Area communities:

Santa Clara, Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Gatos, Milpitas, Morgan Hill, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Saratoga, Sunnyvale, Atherton, Menlo Park, Redwood City, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Fremont, Hayward, and Silicon Valley.

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