If your
child has been arrested and charged with a
juvenile offense, it can be a stressful time
for both you and your family. As the child’s
parent/guardian, you will likely have many
questions: what possible penalty is my child
facing? Will he/she have a criminal record?
Will they be charged as an adult? How will
this impact their future?
Regardless
of the alleged offense, the juvenile justice
system can be stressful and confusing.
During these times, it is vital to obtain
the services of an experienced Palm Bay
juvenile defense attorney who can protect
the rights of your child. Because the
consequences of juvenile violations can be
severe, making sure your child has the
strongest possible criminal defense is the
best protection you can give them.
Aggressive Juvenile Defense in
Palm Bay, Florida
Since 1985,
attorney Richard G. Canina has vigorously
defended juveniles against both misdemeanor
and felony criminal charges, including:
• Assault and Battery • Burglary
• Drug Charges • Traffic Offenses •
Robbery • Sex Crimes • Shoplifting
• Theft Offenses • Vandalism •
Criminal Mischief • DUI / DWI • “Fake
ID” • Possession of a Weapon •
Reckless Driving • Resisting Arrest •
Underage Possession of Alcohol/Tobacco
Overview of the Juvenile
Justice System
When a
juvenile is arrested and charged with a
crime, the case is sent to the Juvenile
Justice System. This system handles cases
much differently than the adult justice
system. Separate rules and procedures govern
juvenile offenses. Unlike adult court,
juvenile courts focus on rehabilitation of
young offenders, rather than punishment.
Juvenile courts aim to educate and deter the
child from future criminal conduct. However,
juveniles in juvenile court enjoy
significantly less legal freedoms than
adults. For example, there is no right to a
jury trial in juvenile court. Juveniles have
no right to bail. Juveniles may be held in
juvenile detention for up to 21 days after
their arrest (and possibly more if the crime
is a serious felony). Prosecutors can
consider previous juvenile offenses as far
back as 5 years in determining both the
specific offense to charge the child with
and the possible sentence.
Juveniles Tried as Adults
On
rare occasions, juvenile cases are heard in
adult court. These cases typically involve
either repeat juvenile offenders or
juveniles facing serious felony charges. If
a juvenile is tried as an adult, the
penalties to which adults are subject to
will apply. It is important to note that the
Juvenile Justice System does not have
jurisdiction in criminal traffic violations.
If your child has been charged with a crime,
contacting an experienced Palm Bay juvenile
defense lawyer is your best protection
against your child being tried in adult
court.
Palm Bay Criminal
Lawyer
A juvenile should
never go into the legal system alone. If
your child has been arrested in Palm Bay or
anywhere in Brevard County, FL for a
misdemeanor or felony offense, please
Contact the Law Office of Richard G. Canina
today for your FREE CONSULTATION.
*The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision
that should not be based solely upon advertisements.
Before you decide, ask us to send you free, written
information about our qualifications and experience.