Juvenile Defense
danielle.nygren@cohendefense.com

Danielle Nygren isn’t afraid to take on the justice system on behalf of her clients. She’s done everything from seeking exoneration from the California Supreme Court to pursuing a presidential pardon from the White House. She worked on informant issues arising from the infamous Orange County jail snitch program, and successfully overturned the deportation of a U.S. Army veteran. Committed to protecting people’s rights, Danielle says, “What motivates me to work so hard is feeling like I am someone’s advocate, their warrior – trained, informed, and ready to go to battle for them. The constitution allows us to go up against the government to protect and defend our clients’ rights. That is a powerful thing.”

One of our primary juvenile delinquency lawyers, Danielle devotes herself to defending children charged with crimes. Children can be charged with all levels of crime, including sex offenses, DUI’s, and serious felonies. They may be experiencing drug addiction, mental illness, or homelessness. The skills Danielle has honed working with adults in criminal court make her exceptionally well-qualified to handle the multiple issues raised when a child is accused of breaking the law.

Before moving to our juvenile team, Danielle worked with family situations in domestic violence court. She had tremendous success representing clients in pre-charging situations where the client sought her help immediately after arrest. Danielle convinced District Attorneys in multiple cases, in multiple counties, not to file charges, saving her clients time, money, and the stress of having to appear in court.

In our felony unit, Danielle’s hard work and dedication secured life-changing results for her clients. Through a tough litigation process, Danielle was able to knock 30 years off one client’s sentence and expedite his parole eligibility. She kept another client out of prison altogether and prevented her from having to register as a sex offender. Danielle has a track record of getting felony charges reduced to misdemeanors by successfully litigating preliminary hearings. According to David Cohen, a founding partner of the Cohen Defense Group, “Danielle has a high level of dedication to criminal justice work and, more importantly, Danielle is a winner. She has proven herself to be a strong advocate for our clients.”

Danielle is driven to help people. She graduated from the U.C. Irvine School of Law with High Honors for working more volunteer hours than anyone else in her class. During her time in law school, she put in over 400 volunteer hours at Public Defender’s offices throughout Southern California. “The most satisfying part of the job is working closely with my clients to get the desired result, whether that is through trying the case, negotiating a resolution, or convincing the DA to decline charges.”

Danielle’s experience and desire to help make her an excellent fit for juvenile court. Her young clients know that she is on their side and will communicate their needs to the court, helping to minimize long-term consequences so that they can move forward in a positive way. “I prioritize making sure my clients feel heard. I am honored to be their voice in the courtroom or to amplify theirs when appropriate. In a system that can be overwhelming and confusing it is important to me that my clients understand the process, their rights, and their options. I enjoy being able to provide long term support and continue to speak up for them as they navigate probation.”

When she is not working, Danielle enjoys being a mom, listening to music, and spending time outdoors with family and friends.

Danielle was born in Fair Oaks and raised in El Dorado Hills and Folsom. She became a member of the state bar in 2018. Education: University of California, Irvine, CA (B.A. Social Ecology 2014); University of California School of Law, Irvine, CA (J.D., 2018). Member: State Bar of California, Placer County Bar Association, Pacific Juvenile Defender Center.

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Danielle’s Results

Charges Not Filed

I provided information to the DA before charges were filed. After evaluating it, they decided not to file domestic violence battery charges on my client.
Judge Reduced Charges

I convinced the judge to reduce a felony conspiracy to a misdemeanor over the DA's objection, by presenting mitigating factors to the court. The judge reduced the charge even though my client had 5 prior convictions on her record, including one felony.
Drug Case Dismissed

My client was charged with possession of misappropriated property and drug paraphernalia. I set the case for a jury trial and filed a motion to suppress evidence. The judge granted my motion, ruling that the police had violated my client's 4th amendment rights by performing an illegal search. The case was dismissed.
Case Against 12-Year-Old Dismissed

My 12-year-old client was charged with two felonies. I filed a motion asking the judge to reduce the charges to misdemeanors and the judge agreed. A psychological assessment of my client revealed that he was too young to understand the proceedings. I set it for a hearing and the judge dismissed the case.
Client’s Positive Progress Earns Dismissal

My teenaged client was facing a DUI charge. He had strong family support and structure and had already made great efforts toward rehabilitation. I filed a motion to dismiss the charge based on his post-arrest efforts and progress. The judge granted my motion and dismissed the case.
Juvenile Record Avoided

My client was facing a felony theft charge. I presented evidence of her good character to the DA. After reviewing it, the DA allowed my client to do community service and, upon completion, dismissed the charge prior to trial.
Juvenile Cases Dismissed

My very young client was charged with resisting arrest and truancy. I filed a motion to suppress evidence for illegal behavior by the police and set the case for hearing and trial. On the day of trial, the DA dismissed the resisting arrest charge. My client improved his school attendance and earned a dismissal of the truancy case.
Strike Offenses Dismissed

My 18-year-old client was facing several serious felony charges that would qualify as "strikes" under the Three Strikes Law. A contentious hearing was held to determine if he should remain in custody while the case was pending. The judge allowed my client to go home over the DA's objection. He did extremely well, working and paying for his own car and apartment. His case later resolved for an admission to one felony, with all the others being dismissed.
Serious Felony Dismissed

My juvenile client was charged with a serious felony that would count as a strike under the Three Strikes Law and would prevent him from joining the military. I gathered positive character evidence about my client and presented that to the DA. I pointed out the weaknesses in their case against my client. The DA dismissed the charge for insufficient evidence.

More Results

Danielle’s Recent Posts

Danielle’s Press

Veteran Who Was Deported to Mexico Returns Home to the U.S.
Army Veteran, Deported to Mexico Under Obaba, Reunites With Family in Azusa

Danielle’s Results

Charges Not Filed

Judge Reduced Charges

Drug Case Dismissed

Case Against 12-Year-Old Dismissed

Client’s Positive Progress Earns Dismissal

Juvenile Record Avoided

Juvenile Cases Dismissed

Strike Offenses Dismissed

Serious Felony Dismissed

Danielle’s Recent Posts

Danielle’s Press

Danielle N. Nygren’s Reviews