Cumming Juvenile Defense Lawyer
Protecting the Legal Rights of Minors Accused of Crimes
If your son or daughter was arrested and charged as a juvenile offender, you need to hire a Cumming criminal defense attorney who knows the juvenile court system well. The procedures of this system are different from the adult criminal justice system, which is why you shouldn’t leave your child’s juvenile case to just any Cumming criminal defense lawyer.
When you trust Carl Chapman P.C. with your child’s criminal case, you will get the compassion and reassurance your family will need when dealing with this difficult situation. As a parent, you are likely worried about how criminal charges will affect your child’s future. Our team will walk you through the legal process and ensure you understand what the most likely outcome looks like. Contact our law firm to get started.
What Should You Know About Juvenile Cases in Georgia?
It’s critical that you hire a juvenile defense attorney to take on your child’s case because the court treats juvenile crime differently from crimes committed by adults. For example, the legal process for your child’s juvenile court case will take place in a closed courtroom, so it won’t be available for others to follow.
In addition, juveniles are not typically permitted bail, nor does a jury decide the case. Instead, it’s up to the judge to decide the outcome. If your child is found guilty of the crime, they will usually serve their time in a juvenile detention facility.
Your child’s age may make a difference in their juvenile criminal case. For instance, children who are younger than 13 won’t be tried, though in some cases, their parents could be held liable. On the other hand, if your child is older than 17, they’re considered an adult and will be tried as such. This may also be the case for those between 15 and 17 years old, but only for the most serious crimes.
What Are Common Types of Juvenile Court Cases?
As experienced juvenile defense lawyers in Cumming, we’ve handled a variety of cases involving minors. These are among the most common:
- Crimes involving alcohol
- Crimes involving drugs
- Traffic offenses
- Shoplifting
- Car theft
- Burglary
- DUI
- Gang-related crimes
These crimes range in severity, so they might result in time in a juvenile detention facility, community service, fines, and more. The juvenile court does not handle certain serious crimes, though. If your child is accused of any of these crimes and is 15 or older, they will likely be tried as an adult:
- Sexual assault
- Murder
- Voluntary manslaughter
- Aggravated sodomy
- Aggravated sexual battery
- Armed robbery
- Aggravated battery
- Aggravated child molestation
No matter which charges your child is facing, you should hire a juvenile defense lawyer in Cumming today to find out the possible legal defenses. Contact our law firm to get started.
How Do Juvenile Charges Affect Students?
If your child still goes to school and has been charged with a crime, you might wonder if this will affect their education. In most cases, it will. This is because this state allows elementary and high schools to suspend or expel students facing felony charges. Schools can also refuse to accept new students who have been charged with a felony, making it hard for expelled students to enroll in a different school.
If your child was accepted to college before facing criminal charges, the school can rescind their offer of acceptance and take away scholarships. Current students may be expelled, suspended, or put on academic probation. This is why it’s so important to immediately fight juvenile charges.
Do You Need a Cumming Juvenile Defense Lawyer?
While the juvenile court is often preferred to the regular court system, you should take juvenile criminal charges seriously. The outcome of your child’s case can affect their current life in many ways, especially if they’re expelled from school and sentenced to time in a juvenile detention center.
A conviction in juvenile court can even affect their future since it could prevent them from finishing high school or attending college. So, as soon as your child is accused of a violent crime in Georgia, contact a skilled criminal attorney who works within the juvenile criminal justice system. Call our law offices at 470-206-2169 for a free case evaluation.