Legal Help For Juvenile Offenses
Being charged with any kind of crime is a serious issue for anyone, but when you’re under 18 it can be even more stressful and have a long-term impact on your life that can make it harder to move on in a positive way. That’s why we feel that it’s so important you turn to a criminal defense attorney with a history in juvenile offenses – it is the only way to ensure that you have the best chances of improving the potential outcome of your case.
Juvenile offenses and juvenile law can be somewhat confusing, due in large part to the fact that they come with a number of additional intricacies that cause them to stand out. With that in mind, here are some of the key things that you’ll want to understand about juvenile criminal offenses.
- Under Florida law, juveniles can be changed as adults by grand jury indictment. In these cases, the case will be transferred to the adult criminal court and the juvenile will actually be booked into a jail until released on bond or their trial occurs.
- Juveniles may be released to a parent or guardian, or could be transferred to a Juvenile Assessment Center where the detention process occurs. Once there, DJJ personnel make a determination as to where the juvenile will be held – in secure detention, released to a parent, or placed on house arrest.
- Guilty verdicts can lead to various charges ranging from heavy probation with conditions to additional DJJ detention sentences.
- Guilty verdicts are entered into the history of the juvenile, and they will remain there for years. These criminal histories can make it harder to enter schools, find employment, and take other similar steps in one’s life after graduation.
Simply put, while it’s true that juvenile offenders may get a reduced sentence compared to adults with similar charges, the reality is that no matter one’s age, the repercussions of a criminal charge can be very long lasting. It’s important to get the kind of defense you need in order to reach the best possible outcome from a case.
Our team is here to help, and has years of experience in helping those charged with juvenile offenses in Florida. Based in St Petersburg but serving the entire surrounding area, we’re ready to provide you with assistance if you or a child in your care is facing criminal juvenile charges. Contact our team today to get the help that you need.
