Defending Your Child in Ocala Against Juvenile Charges
FLORIDA JUVENILE CRIMES
When your child is Arrested for a crime in Florida, they face potentially serious consequences. At The AP Law Group, we have over 55 years combined legal experience and we know how to protect your child’s future with aggressive defense. After a juvenile is arrested and taken into custody many things can occur. The case can be referred to the adult court system in the case of serious crimes, the juvenile can be detained in a detention center for up to 21 days before a court hearing and then once the case is in court, adjudication may be withheld. The juvenile can be placed in a community supervision program, or the court may place the juvenile in a residential commitment facility. If the juvenile is convicted of the offense, it can remain on record unless positive action is taken for the sealing or expunction of that record.
HOW JUVENILE CRIMES ARE HANDLED IN FLORIDA
A juvenile case is handled by the civil courts and not the criminal courts. Should the juvenile be arrested and found guilty of a crime, the consequences can be like a criminal proceeding. The juvenile can be convicted and face prison, probation, community service, residential programs, and payment of restitution to the victims. Juveniles under the age of 18 do not have the same legal protections as an adult in defending themselves against false accusations. In juvenile cases, only a judge hears the case and there are no jury trials. In a case that goes to trial the judge decides if the juvenile is guilty or innocent and the case must be brought forth within 90 days of the time the petition was filed or the initial arrest date, whichever happened first.
Once the juvenile is arrested, he/she is transported to a Juvenile Assessment Center and it will be decided whether the juvenile be continued to be detained. In the instance that the juvenile is alleged to have committed a certain type of misdemeanor or felony, the officer and the Juvenile Justice Department counselor will issue the juvenile a “Juvenile Notice to Appear”. The intent of this notice is to direct the parent or legal guardian of the juvenile to take him or her home and to ensure that the juvenile appears at their arraignment.
If the juvenile does not appear, the juvenile will be sent to a juvenile detention center. The juvenile will be required to go before a judge for a detention hearing and in this time the juvenile’s attorney can request that the juvenile be released from the detention center during the pendency of the case. If the juvenile receives a guilty verdict, he/she can be sent to a non-residential program at the discretion of the judge. The type of offense a juvenile is charged with and the juvenile’s prior history will determine the penalties he/she will face. At the AP Law Group in Ocala and Gainesville Florida, we represent those accused of juvenile crimes.
WHEN A MINOR IS CHARGED AS AN ADULT
When a minor is charged with felonies that make it possible for the case to be filed in an adult court, the adult court assumes jurisdiction over the case and the minor can be tried as an adult and face stark consequences such as time in jail. Any felony that was allegedly committed by a sixteen or seventeen-year-old or a minor younger than sixteen, can face adult charges, such as robbery or aggravated battery. Any crime committed using a weapon can be prosecuted in adult court.
CONTACT AN EXPERIENCED CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY FOR ASSISTANCE WITH JUVENILE CRIMES CHARGES
If your child has been arrested for a crime in Florida, or convicted of a juvenile offense in Florida, you will need experienced legal counsel. Your child’s protection is a top priority and our attorneys at The AP Law Group in Ocala and Gainesville has aggressively represented many juvenile crimes cases successfully. Our attorneys will fight the allegations against your child and work to avoid the serious penalties for the alleged offense. Contact The AP Law Group for help at 352-732-9191.