Juvenile crimes can be both heart wrenching and complicated at the same time. Depending on the crime and the specific scenario, a young adult may find themselves faced with a daunting future. Mistakenly, many people are under the impression that when a child or young adult is accused of – and in turn charged with – a crime, it really isn’t that big of a deal because of their age. However, that couldn’t be farther from the truth. In the event your child is facing criminal charges of any kind, it is absolutely imperative that you take the situation seriously and understand the implications. It is important to keep in mind that the juvenile system differs from the main criminal justice system, which can make things even more difficult to understand for those involved.
All that being said, one of the main factors in a juvenile case is the defense strategy. With the help of a knowledgeable criminal defense attorney and a smart defense, the charges against your child may lessen or even be dropped. However, juvenile defense strategies are no walk in the park. Due to the sensitive nature of these types of cases, it is absolutely imperative the defense strategy used is one that takes all factors into consideration. Before we look at some of the most common juvenile defense strategies, let’s go over what some of the special programs that are designed for dealing with juvenile offenses in Oklahoma:
- Supportive Treatment Programs
- Diversion
- School Programs
- Informal Probation
- Formal Probation
- Community Service Programs
- Social Service Options
In Oklahoma, the juvenile legal system aims to ensure those faced with a crime are given the best possible options. The system understands that mistakes happen and that juveniles deserve a chance to recuperate and bounce back from these types of situations with the right tools.
How to Defend a Minor
When it comes to defending a minor who has been accused of a serious crime, it is important to retain the services of an experienced and committed criminal defense attorney. We cannot reiterate how complicated these cases can be, which is why both the juvenile in question and their parents or guardian needs all the help they can get. Furthermore, communicating with the police in juvenile crime cases is of the utmost importance.
While there are many ways to handle juvenile cases, it is crucial that you retain an attorney who understands the system and has a proven track record at getting results. Furthermore, the defense strategy should focus on clearing a juvenile record and only allowing certain crimes to remain on record. As you can imagine, this can be tricky.
To find out more about our specific defense strategies for juvenile crimes, please contact AMA Law today.