Pinellas Park Juvenile Delinquency Lawyer
The juvenile justice system is separate from the adult criminal justice system. Any juvenile accused of a crime has a right to a lawyer for their delinquency hearing. Call The Reep Law Firm today to discuss what to expect. We often receive phone calls from distraught parents in the middle of the night. The police have taken their child into custody and the parents don’t know what to do. They are scared and need answers. Let our Pinellas Park juvenile delinquency lawyer explain what to expect. We can also defend your child at any court hearing.
What is Juvenile Justice?
After your child is taken into custody, the justice system works as follows:
- Your child is referred to a Juvenile Assessment Center to gauge their risk to public safety.
- Based on the assessment, your child might be placed in secure or non-secure detention; home-based detention is also an option. The state might also recommend a pretrial diversion.
- Your child will attend an arraignment and enter a plea.
- Unless agreement is reached between you and the state, your child will have a trial to determine delinquency. A minor isn’t “convicted”—instead, they are found delinquent.
The objective of juvenile justice isn’t punishment—it’s rehabilitation. To that end, your child might enter a rehabilitation program or drug court. The state might agree to these options, which will make a delinquency hearing unnecessary.
A judge can also enter the following sanctions if they find your child delinquent:
- Probation
- Diversion
- Restitution
- Community service
Some juveniles might be charged as an adult, depending on the circumstances surrounding the offense, as well as their criminal history. However, this option usually occurs only for the most violent crimes and for juveniles with prior offenses.
How We Help
Although the goal of juvenile justice isn’t punishment, your child deserves legal representation. The evidentiary basis for the crime might be very weak. Someone else could have committed the offense, with your child simply being a bystander. You can avoid the juvenile justice system if your child was not to blame for the offense.
We can also help juveniles and their parents understand the different options, including diversion and rehabilitation. You can make an informed choice about whether to agree to this resolution or whether to go to a hearing.
A lot is riding on how a juvenile case turns out. Your child will have a juvenile record if adjudged delinquent. Although most juvenile records are sealed automatically, additional steps might be necessary depending on the case. And your child might be forced to acknowledge even juvenile offenses when they seek a job or security clearance as an adult. It’s best to avoid any delinquency finding in the first place.
Call the Pinellas Park Juvenile Delinquency Lawyers at The Reep Law Firm to Learn More about Your Options!
Our Pinellas Park juvenile delinquency case lawyer can discuss what will happen and how we help in greater detail. Parents and juveniles should not go into their hearing blind. Call us to schedule a private meeting.
