Minors have been known to commit crimes, and if your son or daughter has been getting into trouble, you may not be surprised when they have committed a crime and have been subsequently arrested. Minors are still too young to be tried in court as adults, so they are most often labeled juvenile offenders. Every United States court has a juvenile court system that handles crime cases involving children who are technically a minor. An experienced juvenile criminal lawyer can help provide your child with adequate representation in court. So what happens when your child commits a crime?
The reason why these juvenile court systems exist is to try and rehabilitate them over punishing them. For adults, the consequences can be much more severe. For minors, the emphasis is on rehabilitation over sentencing, and this is precisely where an experienced juvenile criminal lawyer comes in. Just because your child is a minor does not mean that they are off the hook. In fact, sentencing can be very harsh for repeat offenders, disrespectful minors, or violent crimes.
Furthermore, the age at which a young person is considered a minor varies officially from state to state. North Carolina and New York have their age limit at fifteen, while other states have it at sixteen. Unfortunately many states also have laws that state that in certain scenarios a minor can be tried in a court of law as an adult. All of the states have passed this legislation and it can mean serious consequences for the minor in question.
A juvenile crime lawyer knows the system and the laws of the state inside out and may be able to help you try your case. This is the case for serious crimes which often involve homicide or repeat offenses. A total of 22 states have no laws against transferring a minor to an adult course, while others have minimum age limits for the transfer such as 16 or 18.
An experienced juvenile criminal lawyer has represented minors and their parents before and knows these criminal proceedings like the back of their hand. They are familiar with the workings of the court, the judges, and how to proceed with a case. A qualified lawyer representing your child is a good idea because you know then that you have the best shot at getting the best results from the hearing. Judges will be hard on repeat or violent offenders, but if your child doesn’t fall into that category and they have adequate representation, your chances are good that they may be recommended counseling or community service. In some cases, even electronic surveillance or parole may be more preferable than them going to juvenile lock up or a group home. Having an experienced lawyer who will work to persuade the judge for leniency can be invaluable in court when you consider the alternative.
Another good thing about the proceedings for juveniles is that the records are inaccessible to the public. Data may be expunged or sealed as necessary. Having an experienced juvenile criminal lawyer representing your child in such proceedings can be your child’s best shot at a good hearing. Consult The Law Offices of Payas, Payas, and Payas to see what they can do for you.
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