The Significance of a Juvenile Defense Attorney in West Palm Beach, FL
Having your child arrested for a crime can cause immense stress for the whole family. The consequences of a juvenile crime can negatively impact your child’s future, harm their academic career, or even result in incarceration.
What’s worse, the prosecution may try to attempt to transfer your child’s case to adult court. That means the child is tried as an adult and, if convicted, can face severe penalties.
Therefore, it is extremely important to obtain the counsel of juvenile lawyers if a child faces juvenile crime charges. They can defend your child’s rights and make sure the charges affect their lives as little as possible.
The Law Offices of Brian M. Carroll, P.A. offers aggressive, relentless, and sensible to juvenile criminal charges.
How Does the Juvenile Justice Process in Florida Work?
A juvenile justice process includes certain stages:
- Prevention
- Probation/Intake
- Detention
- Court Disposition
- Probation – Supervision
- Residential
- Probation – Reentry and Transition
Let us explain it better. In some cases, juvenile offenders can only be given a civil citation. That is especially the case if they have committed a first-time misdemeanor offense. They can also be released to a diversion program, a probation office, or a Juvenile Assessment Center (JAC). At the JAC, a Juvenile Probation Officer can decide and recommend the proper course of action. However, in some cases, a juvenile offender is detained at a juvenile detention facility.
If a child admits the guilt for a juvenile offense they are charged with, a deposition hearing will be scheduled. If they deny, an adjudicatory hearing will take place.
If the child is convicted, the judge will determine the punishment. Sometimes, the judge has to consider recommendations of the Department of Juvenile Justice before sentencing.
The main goal of the Florida juvenile system is rehabilitation rather than punishment. But, some convicted juveniles can be sent to the Department of Juvenile Justice Residential Facilities to serve their sentence or returned to their parents and placed on house arrest or probation.
Facing Juvenile Charges? We Can Help!
Watching your child go through the Florida juvenile justice system can affect your whole family. Although it can feel more relaxed, juvenile court procedures can be confusing. An experienced juvenile defense attorney can assist you with navigating the process. An attorney can also help a minor get into a great diversion program or negotiate a favorable settlement.
I am Brian Carroll, and as an attorney I have successfully handled hundreds of juvenile cases in South Florida. I have experience handling serious juvenile cases and obtaining excellent results for my clients and their families. Juvenile Court is completely different than Adult Court and our firm has specific experience representing juveniles. Don’t let something you did as a child hurt your future or criminal record!
Types of juvenile cases we handle:
- Theft
- Drug Charges
- Burglary
- Manslaughter
- Driving Offenses
- Weapons Offenses
- Sex Offenses
- Grand Theft Auto
- Assault/Battery
- Criminal Mischief
Can a Juvenile Defense Lawyer Help with Expungement?
An experienced juvenile defense lawyer in West Palm Beach can significantly assist with the expungement of juvenile records. The juvenile court system operates under a separate justice system from the adult criminal court, with a different approach to handling crimes committed by minor offenders, including those in West Palm Beach.
Under Florida law, certain juvenile records can be expunged, especially if the crimes are not typically violent crimes or if the juvenile has successfully completed a diversion program.
In many cases, juvenile diversion programs are offered as alternatives to formal prosecution in juvenile courts. These programs, which may include community service, counseling, or a juvenile justice residential program, focus on rehabilitating the minor rather than imposing harsh penalties.
Successful completion of these programs can lead to the minor’s record being cleared, which is where an experienced juvenile defense lawyer comes in.
The lawyer can negotiate with the state attorney and navigate through Florida statutes to determine if the juvenile case qualifies for expungement. It’s crucial for the lawyer to prove that the alleged crime and the minor’s subsequent behavior warrant this relief.
Expungement is vital as it removes the offense from the minor’s criminal record, offering a clean slate and preventing long-term consequences on the minor’s future, especially in serious matters that could otherwise transfer to adult criminal court.
An experienced lawyer in West Palm Beach will understand the nuances of the juvenile court system and the specific criteria required for expungement under Florida law.
They can guide the juvenile and their family through the process, from filing the necessary paperwork to representing them in any required hearings. The goal is to ensure that the juvenile’s record does not impede their opportunities for education, employment, and other areas of adult life.
Have More Questions on Juvenile Offenses? Contact Our Law Firm
The Law Offices of Brian M. Carroll, P.A. handles exclusively criminal defense cases in Palm Beach County and other counties of South Florida.
When you are facing a criminal charge, it’s crucial to hire a defense attorney who has the experience and takes the time to handle your legal matter professionally. Whether you or someone you love is facing criminal or juvenile charges, we are dedicated to providing top-notch legal defense.
If you have more questions on juvenile crimes, contact a defense attorney at the Law Offices of Brian M. Carroll, P.A., as soon as possible.