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Juvenile Criminal Defense

According to the Florida Department of Justice, there were 80 juvenile delinquents who committed crimes for every 1,000 juveniles in the state of Florida in 2009-2010. The mot common juvenile crime in 2009-2010 was misdemeanor theft, with 16,516 juveniles accused of theft. Burglary was the most common felony offense for juveniles, with 11,831 burglars in 2009-2010.

Juvenile crimes can have serious consequences for the minors accused, including incarceration in a secure juvenile justice facility. In addition, contrary to popular belief, a juvenile criminal record is not necessarily cleared or sealed upon the juvenile’s 18th birthday. As such, if you or your child has been accused of a juvenile crime, it is very important to seek legal representation from a knowledgeable West Palm Beach criminal attorney. The lawyers at Musca Law have helped countless juvenile clients to minimize or avoid the consequences associated with a juvenile conviction, and if you live in Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Wellington, Jupiter or other areas in Palm Beach or West Palm Beach, we can help you with your own legal issues.


Juvenile Criminal Defense in West Palm Beach

When a minor is charged with a juvenile offense, he or she is taken to the Juvenile Assessment Center, which is a division of the Department of Juvenile Justice. At the assessment center, a determination is made as to whether the child presents a danger and should remain in custody or whether the child should be released to his or her parents pending arraignment. When it is determined that the child must be kept in secured custody, a detention hearing must be held within 24 hours so a judge can make a determination on whether to release the child and on what conditions of release are appropriate.

The next step in the juvenile justice process is arraignment, when the minor is informed of the charges pending against him and is given the opportunity to enter a plea. By this time, it is important to have legal representation for help in determining what plea to enter.

In certain cases, a motion will also be made at or around this time to move the case to adult court. This typically occurs when a very serious crime has been committed, such as a murder or violent crime. When a case is moved to adult court and the child is tried as an adult, the penalties become exponentially more severe. It is thus especially important to contact a criminal defense attorney when there is a chance that the minor will be tried as an adult.

If the case does remain in juvenile court, as most do, there is a discovery period after arraignment wherein each party prepares its case. The defense is provided with information from the prosecution on the evidence in the case during the discovery period. Negotiations or plea-bargaining may also take place during this time, wherein your criminal defense attorney attempts to negotiate a deal with the prosecutor where you agree to plead guilty to a lesser offense in exchange for leniency. Pre-trial diversion programs are also common in juvenile court and your attorney will help you to explore these options during the discovery phase as well. If you have any viable defenses against the charges you are facing, your attorney will also gather the necessary evidence to prove the defenses.

If no plea agreement is made and you do not enter a diversion program, the case will then proceed to trial to determine your fate. If you are found guilty, you may be sentenced to community service or sentenced to remain in secured custody at a juvenile justice facility. Usually, you are sentenced only to remain in custody until your 18th birthday although there may be times when you are kept in custody until you are up to 21 years of age.

Avoiding the penalties and consequences of a juvenile crime conviction is often possible with the help of an experienced criminal defense attorney.  Contact a knowledgeable legal professional at Musca Law today to learn more about your options for responding to accusations of a juvenile crime.

Free Consultation: Juvenile Defense Attorneys in Palm Beach County

As criminal attorneys we represent minors accused of the following juvenile crimes in Florida:

Don’t gamble with your freedom, future and reputation. If you are facing juvenile crimes charges in Palm Beach County, call the Palm Beach criminal defense lawyers at Musca Law for a free consultation. 239-277-5297. Phone answered 24/7.

Need to hire a West Palm Beach juvenile crimes attorney? Contact us today!