Juvenile Crime Attorney in Brockton

Experienced Legal Representation Across Plymouth, Hingham, Quincy & Beyond

A child under the age of 18 is legally considered a juvenile, and if arrested or charged with a crime, will be assigned to the juvenile court system. Even though the punishments and procedures are generally less harsh than those in the adult system, being charged with a crime in juvenile court is still a serious matter. If your child has been arrested or charged with a crime, get quality criminal defense representation in Brockton as soon as possible.

At South Shore Criminal Defense, the criminal defense attorneys are skilled and experienced in defending juvenile crime. All of them were former prosecutors, and their decades of experience as defense attorneys give them a wealth of insight and know-how when it comes to keeping your child out of jail or getting the charges reduced.

The Criminal Process for Minors

Even though it may be the juvenile court system, harsh punishments for a conviction can still occur. A conviction can also have a negative effect on educational opportunities such as scholarships or college admissions, employment and others. Additionally, if a child has a history of juvenile crime convictions, it can result in enhanced penalties if later convicted of a crime as an adult. Some of the more common crimes that are committed by juveniles are:

• Vandalism
• Theft
• Shoplifting
• Drug possession
• Assault
• Underage drinking
• Speeding, reckless driving, etc.

Brockton Criminal Lawyer Fighting for the Rights of Juvenile Defendants

Juvenile crime is considered either a delinquency charge or a youthful offender indictment. Most juvenile crime falls under the delinquency charge, except murder. The public cannot view these cases, the names of those charged are withheld, and media cannot report on the case. Youthful offender indictments, however, are more severe, as they involve crimes either threatening to cause or resulting in bodily harm. The general public can view these cases, names can be released and media are allowed to cover them.

A juvenile convicted of a youthful offender crime could face the same penalties as an adult, including prison. A case that starts out as a delinquency charge can also be changed to a youthful offender indictment. The maximum penalty for a delinquency charge is a commitment to custody with the Department of Youth Services until 18 years old.

Contact South Shore Criminal Defense

This is no time to entrust your child's future to inexperienced legal representation. The juvenile criminal lawyers at the firm aggressively defend these cases because they know how harsh the penalties can be for these young citizens. You can take advantage of their free case evaluation form online or call them for more information.