September 18, 2017
There is little more precious than a child’s future, and parents will usually do anything to protect it. Parents work hard to care for their children and teach them right from wrong, but we all know that sometimes the teen experience comes with some hiccups along the way.
Teenager’s brains do not work the same as an adult’s. Immaturity, peer pressure and lack of impulse control can get good kids into trouble. When juveniles are arrested, the crimes often involve things like:
- Vandalism/Graffiti
- Fake ID
- Underage Drinking
- Shoplifting
- Disorderly Conduct
If your child is arrested for a juvenile criminal offense, you want to do your best to make a bad situation into an experience that will teach them responsibility for their actions. What you don’t want is for them to get caught in an ongoing cycle in the criminal justice system. Here are three reasons you should contact an experienced Florida juvenile criminal defense lawyer immediately.
Having the Case Handled in Juvenile Court is Critical
The first thing that an attorney will do is ensure that your child’s matter is handled within the juvenile court system. Avoiding removal to an adult court is crucial.
If your child is tried as an adult, the punishment is likely to be harsher. They are also more likely to end up with a permanent criminal record, which is a blemish that can follow them for the rest of their lives. A criminal record may affect your child’s future plans for work, college, military service or even apartment rental.
Aside from that, we now live in a digital age where a simple internet search could bring up troublesome information about your child, holding them back socially and irreparably damaging their reputation.
Police May Have Improperly Questioned Your Child
If your child was improperly questioned by police officers without a parent or an attorney present, their statements might be able to be removed from evidence.
A 2011 United States Supreme Court case decided that age, among other things, must be a factor when deciding whether parental presence during questioning is necessary. If your child was interrogated by police officers without parental presence, contact us to talk about what occurred.
Call a St. Petersburg Juvenile Lawyer Today to Protect Your Child’s Rights and Future
An attorney experienced with juvenile matters understands that juvenile laws and punishments are different from adult ones. The juvenile system focuses on rehabilitation of the child, not punitive punishments like jail time. As a former prosecutor, I know the ins-and-outs of the juvenile and criminal systems. My experience will help your child’s case.
Don’t put your child’s future at risk. If your child has been arrested, contact the Khonsari Law Group. Call us at (727) 269-5300 today to discuss a game plan to get your child’s life back on track.