A criminal defense and personal injury law firm serving Hillsborough, Pinellas, and the surrounding Tampa Bay counties
It is a phone call that no parent wants to get - your son or daughter has been arrested. Too often kids are pushed through the Florida juvenile justice system and are regarded as juvenile delinquents without competent legal representation. Some parents think it is best for their children to plead guilty and take their punishment. However, just like every other defendant in the criminal justice system, children have rights that need to be protected. When a child is applying to college or for a first job, the last thing they need to do is explain a criminal record. A juvenile criminal record can have long-lasting or even permanent ramifications. Hiring a Tampa juvenile lawyer is in the best interest of the child accused.
The state attorney’s office, together with the Department of Juvenile Justice, will attempt to dictate what happens to a child, including whether he or she is detained or sent to a juvenile delinquent center, which can be a lock-down commitment program.
In a serious case, the state attorney can choose to try the child as an adult. Mayberry/Rich will fight aggressively to keep a child charged with a crime in juvenile court. If your child has endured a juvenile arrest, the Tampa child lawyers at Mayberry/Rich would be happy to give you free consultation- an honest, straightforward assessment of the case and your options. We’re here for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
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