Juvenile Crimes Can Tarnish a Future

Even though the term mischief is generally associated with minor destructive actions or behavior, in the eyes of the law it is still a crime. Juveniles can get into mischief when they are bored or are not moving with the right crowds and destructive actions can land them in trouble with the law.

The act of vandalizing someone's property or possessions is a criminal offense and you can be charged with a crime. Juvenile crime can include destruction, alteration, damage or defacement of private or public property or possessions. A common form of juvenile crime that is most often heard of is graffiti.

You also may have heard the term "keying" whereby a person takes a key and scrapes along the side of a vehicle leaving a scar in the paint. Many high school, club or college initiation type of pranks can fall under the classification of juvenile crime if property is destroyed. Theft is not an uncommon juvenile crime nor is involvement with illegal drugs.

The Juvenile Justice System

In the state of Florida, when someone under the age of eighteen is accused of a crime, the case is often handled through the juvenile justice system. This system is different than the adult system in that the focus is placed on rehabilitating the offending juvenile as opposed to punishing them. In more serious cases where a juvenile is a repeat offender or has committed a very serious crime, they may be sent to adult court.

Get Competent Legal Representation

If you or a loved one has been charged with a juvenile crime in the South Florida area, it would be in your best interests to get representation from a Fort Lauderdale criminal defense attorney. Having been convicted of a crime can tarnish a juvenile's future in many ways and destroy opportunities in life that could have been very beneficial. At Parks & Braxton, PA, we have represented thousands of clients throughout the years for various criminal defense matters and are not afraid to go to trial to aggressively represent them. We offer a free consultation to discuss your situation and flexible payment plans should you become a client.

Contact a Fort Lauderdale juvenile crime defense attorney in our office to arrange a free consultation and we will go over the details of your case.