If your child has been arrested, you probably have questions about what will happen next. At DiMaggio Law Offices in Fort Lauderdale, we offer a free initial consultation to answer your questions and discuss your legal options.
Many parents are concerned about whether their child will have a criminal record as a result of a juvenile arrest. While your child will have a record, it will be sealed from the very beginning and will never be open to the public. Even your child’s lawyer won’t be able to look up your child’s court date or find out any information about the case on the clerk’s public website.
Most juvenile law cases involve crimes such as shoplifting, vandalism, truancy, underage drinking, drug charges, burglary, assault and sex offenses. A child can face any charge in juvenile court that an adult could face in adult court.
The closer a child is to age 18, the more likely it is that serious criminal charges may be charged in the adult criminal justice system rather than in juvenile court. The exception is murder, which Florida almost always handles in adult court, even if the defendant is a minor.
The focus of the juvenile justice system leans more toward rehabilitation than does the adult system. The most likely consequences of a juvenile criminal conviction called an adjudication of juvenile delinquency are probation and community service. If your child has been in trouble before, he or she might be required to participate in a day program for juvenile offenders.
In the most serious cases, minors may be sentenced to a lock-down group facility a version of prison for minors where the emphasis is less on rehabilitation and more on punishment. A minor who is charged in adult court can be sent to adult prison.
Juvenile defense attorney Julie DiMaggio has more than 12 years of experience. She is a former Prosecutor who handled hundreds of juvenile cases. A lawyer’s help can ensure your child’s rights are protected and that the emphasis remains on rehabilitation rather than punishment.
As a parent, you can help your child’s case by making sure he or she is attending school. If your child is over 16 and is not attending school, he or she should be working and taking GED classes. The judge in a juvenile law case will almost always ask what your child is doing to take on adult responsibilities and build a stable life.
For a free consultation with a lawyer: To discuss your juvenile law matter with criminal defense attorney call DiMaggio Law Offices at 954-768-9335.
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