Penalties for a crime committed by an adult can be severe, but juvenile charges are just as serious and can have lasting consequences. Unfortunately, your child may have been accused of serious criminal offenses, leading to potentially severe penalties. That can impact your child’s life for years to come.
Fortunately, you and your child do not have to deal with this situation alone. Your Franklin County juvenile defense lawyer at Koffel Brininger Nesbitt is here to help you guide your child through this difficult situation and overcome the charges they are facing. Your Franklin County criminal defense lawyer can help your family navigate these complex scenarios and ensure your child gets the help they need when you contact our office to request a confidential consultation.
How Are Juvenile Criminal Offenses Handled Compared to Adult Cases?
Ohio faces a higher-than-average juvenile crime rate, with a rate of 9.4% of arrests being juveniles, while the national average is 7.6 percent. A majority of these arrests were for assault or larceny theft. However, another 1,839 arrests were for drug crimes.
Generally speaking, the juvenile court system, defined in Ohio Revised Code (ORC) §2151.23, is designed to help juvenile offenders get the guidance, rehabilitation, and support they will need when accused of a crime. The courts understand that juveniles have growth ahead of them and that they should have more opportunities to receive rehabilitation. In many cases, your child may even have opportunities to have their charges dismissed depending on the circumstances and specifics of the offense.
Unfortunately, depending on the charges, juvenile criminal defenses can be treated as adult cases. In fact, juveniles may even receive sentences that would typically be reserved for adults. While the U.S. Supreme Court has disallowed life sentences or the death penalty for juvenile defendants through Miller v. Alabama, they may still face life-changing penalties.
Juvenile Offenders May Have More Opportunities for Diversion
While youths can commit wrongdoing, they are still learning and growing, and the courts recognize that. While adults may face harsher punishments, juveniles may instead have more opportunities for rehabilitation and fair solutions through diversion programs. That gives your child the chance to get help and address any issues that are causing them to lash out and commit criminal offenses.
If your child accepts a diversion program, they may even be able to avoid receiving the charges and keep them off their criminal record. When a diversion program is implemented, the prosecutor and defendant create an agreement for the defense to complete certain requirements in exchange for the charges being dropped. Avoiding criminal charges can help your child avoid more serious penalties in the future.
For first-time offenders, this is especially important. Enrollment in a juvenile defense program can provide opportunities for the child and family to create a better environment for the child. These programs can include community service, family counseling, and drug and alcohol treatment.
Juveniles Can Sometimes Be Charged as Adults
While many juvenile cases are minor offenses, juveniles are just as capable of committing felonies and may even be charged as adults if they are old enough and have been accused of a serious crime. In some situations, cases may even be transferred over from juvenile to adult court. When your child is facing potential penalties that are this serious, having an attorney on your side becomes more urgent than before.
In fact, juveniles can even be committed to an adult facility if convicted. That can have drastic and devastating consequences for a youth offender, and it can create a criminal record that can haunt them for the rest of their life, which is just starting. Because of this, your juvenile defense lawyer in Franklin County with Koffel Brininger Nesbitt works tirelessly to help those juveniles who were arrested and charged as adults pursue getting those charges reduced or dismissed.
For a free legal consultation with a juvenile crime lawyer serving Franklin County, call 614-884-1100
Common Offenses Handled in Juvenile Criminal Court
When a minor commits a criminal offense, they can still be tried for those criminal offenses even if they are not an adult under the Ohio Revised Code §2152.12 on the transfer of cases. While the penalties and the length of time the offenses remain on the record may change, they can still face serious consequences. Below are some common offenses committed by juveniles that are seen in juvenile criminal court:
- Assault under ORC §2903.13
- Theft under ORC §2913.02
- Underage drinking under ORC §4301.69
- Robbery under ORC §2911.02
- Underage operating a vehicle while impaired under ORC §4511.19
- Drug crimes under ORC §2925.01
- Sex offenses under ORC Chapter 2907
If your child has been charged with any of these offenses, we can help them get these charges reduced or dismissed with help from our juvenile defense attorney in Franklin County. Ohio offers many options for diversion of charges, which can help your child avoid serious penalties. If you are unsure where to begin, reach out for help.
Franklin County Juvenile Crime Lawyer Near Me 614-884-1100
Categories of Juvenile Offenders
Juvenile defenders are broken into three categories, starting with the delinquent child category. When a child is labeled delinquent, it means they have been found guilty of behavior that would lead to criminal charges for an adult. Due to the specifics of the charges, an alleged delinquent child may be held for 6 hours or longer depending on the judge’s decision.
Juvenile offenders may also be classified as serious youth offenders under Ohio Revised Code §2152.13. Depending on their age, juvenile offenders may receive this designation when accused of especially serious offenses. These offenders must be 10 years old or older, accused of committing a violent offense, used or displayed a firearm during the act they have been charged with, or previously committed to a Department of Youth Services facility.
Juvenile offenders may also be simply designated as an unruly child. These charges are specific to conduct inappropriate for their young age. These charges include truancy or refusal to submit to parental custody.
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Reach Out to a Top-Rated Franklin County Juvenile Defense Lawyer to Protect Your Child’s Future
When your child has been accused of a juvenile offense, their criminal record can haunt them for the foreseeable future. In situations where the charges are severe enough, they may even face charges as an adult, which can change the course of their life when it is only just beginning. Fortunately, you have an opportunity to safeguard your child’s future.
Our criminal defense team at Koffel Brininger Nesbitt is here to help your child get the powerful defense they need when their future is on the line. Your Franklin County juvenile defense attorney can provide the legal support that can help your child get their future back on track. To speak with an attorney about our legal services, reach out for help by calling or filling out our online contact form.
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