ARRESTED? INVESTIGATED? ARRESTADO? INVESTIGADO?
Juvenile Crimes
In Florida, people under 18 years old are considered juveniles and not responsible for their criminal actions—but be careful. More and more juveniles are being treated as adults.
Police, probation officials, and the State Attorney have broad discretion over how juvenile offenders are treated, and depending on the severity of the offense, juveniles can be:
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Released to their parents
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Confined in juvenile hall
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Transferred into the adult court.
With this flexibility you need a juvenile law attorney who can fight for the best possible outcome and provide input at the critical pre-filing stage.
Miami criminal defense lawyer Albert M. Quirantes has been defending juvenile criminal cases for over 20 years. Consulting Albert M. Quirantes from the moment you get the call that your child is being held by the police gives you a critical advantage.
Florida Law and Juvenile Delinquency
When someone under 18 commits a crime it is generally considered a juvenile delinquency case. The consequences of a juvenile arrest can be disheartening and sometimes severe.
It is essential to have experienced legal representation at all proceedings to protect the minor’s short-term and future interests. Immediate intervention can even prevent a matter from doing to juvenile court or minimize the often harsh consequences of juvenile detention.
The Federal Juvenile Delinquency Act defines juvenile delinquency as any crime committed by someone under 18 years of age. The Federal Act sets rules by which state laws must comply for juvenile court procedures and punishments.
But, juvenile law is mainly governed by state law, and in Florida people who are under 18 years old at the time of their crime are considered juveniles and treated differently from adult offenders. Unlike the criminal justice system, which punishes perpetrators, the primary goal of the juvenile justice system is seeking rehabilitation.
The most common juvenile criminal activity includes, but is not limited to:
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Robbery
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Assaults
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Drug abuse
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Vandalism
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Burglary
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Traffic violations
If you are a minor, or your family member or loved one is a minor that has been arrested, seeking legal representation or legal advice from an experienced juvenile criminal defense attorney such as Albert M. Quirantes is of utmost importance to your future.
Call Albert M. Quirantes and Associates at (305) 644-1800.