Juvenile Offenses & Criminal Defense

In light of the trend to prosecute children more frequently, criminal lawyer Brian H. Mallonee takes special interest in fiercely defending juveniles charged with crimes in Fort Pierce, Port St. Lucie, Vero Beach, Stuart, and Okeechobee, Florida. Like all those we defend, a creative and aggressive approach is utilized when handling a juvenile criminal matter.

The Juvenile Defense Process

First and foremost, we try to ensure the child is not prosecuted as an adult. The State of Florida and its legislatures grant the State Attorney's Offices a lot of discretion in this regard. Early legal intervention can often make the difference between a teenager being charged as an adult or charged as a juvenile. Juvenile sanctions are generally more forgiving than adult sanctions and it is important that we make every attempt to have the case tried in juvenile court. This is the type of case best handled by a criminal lawyer.

The legal system does not deal with these cases in the same way it deals with adult cases. 

The juvenile may have broken the law, however, it is more important to ensure the child (and guardian) understands the severity of the crime and to also ensure the crime will not be repeated as an adult. Protecting the rights of the juvenile in these matters coincides with the intention of the legal system to ensure justice and guidance; not just punishment.

There are a number of ways to attack the government's case in juvenile criminal cases. However, they do differ from adult cases. There are no juries; the juvenile will only be facing a judge. So, entering the courtroom with an experienced juvenile defense attorney with a good reputation in the courtroom will go a long way to protecting the juvenile's rights. A good attorney knows that politely educating the judge about the law can make a difference inside a juvenile courtroom.