Experienced South Florida Criminal Defense Attorney Provides Legal Advice and Representation in Juvenile Cases

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15th Jul 2020

Part of the process of growing up inevitably entails making mistakes. This is why the juvenile justice system is different than the adult criminal justice system. A juvenile who has committed a crime can work with a South Florida criminal defense attorney to learn about the nature of the charges against them and how to avoid obtaining a criminal record that follows them around for the rest of their life. An experienced South Florida criminal defense attorney can explain the following features of the juvenile process:

Rehabilitation is the Goal

The goal of the juvenile justice system is far different than that of the adult system. For adults, the criminal justice system largely serves as a way to punish people who commit crimes, as well as to deter others from making the same mistakes. In contrast, the juvenile justice system is set up to help rehabilitate the juvenile so that he or she does not commit crimes as an adult. Sometimes, the juvenile justice system provides youth with the resources they need to succeed.

Juveniles (Usually) Get to Go Home

In many cases, the juvenile gets to go home after initially being detained by police. The juvenile and his or her parents may receive a Juvenile Notice to Appear that informs them the juvenile must attend court hearings or be sent to a juvenile detention center.

Juveniles May Be Able to Participate in a Diversion Program

Juveniles may be able to avoid being sent to a detention center and may instead be able to participate in a diversion program. With this type of program, the juvenile may be able to meet with a probation officer, perform community service, receive additional resources, and complete a program. Once the juvenile completes the program, there is no further action on the case.