Denver Juvenile Crime Lawyer
There is nothing quite like having a run-in with the law that can alter a young person’s life trajectory. While some parents choose to view their teen’s arrest or criminal investigation as a pivotal wake-up call for their child, having any type of criminal record will hold back a young person when it comes to seeking employment, getting into higher education, applying for loans, and even finding housing once they turn 18. Furthermore, the criminal justice system has been known to overreach when it comes to penalizing juveniles, invoking lengthy juvenile detention sentences. And if the crime was serious, your child could even be tried as an adult. For these reasons, we strongly encourage you to seek out the best legal defense team possible. Denver juvenile crime lawyer Reid DeChant at DeChant Law is intimately familiar with juvenile law, and can develop a defense strategy for the best chances of having the case acquitted.
Common Juvenile Crimes
- Assault
- Battery/menacing
- Vandalism
- Larceny/theft
- Simple possession of controlled substance
- Underage drinking
- Illegal purchase of alcohol, cigarettes, or nicotine products
- Identity theft (particularly of driver IDs to acquire alcohol)
- Driving without a permit or driver’s license
- Trespassing
- Burglary/breaking and entering
- Criminal mischief (damaging property)
- Disorderly conduct
Possible Defense to Juvenile Crimes Charges
As with any defendant, there are always avenues for defense against juvenile crime charges and allegations. A few examples include:
- Unlawful interrogation—Police interrogated a minor defendant without his or her parents, or an attorney, present.
- Self-defense—The defendant was simply using self defense to mitigate harm to themselves, their property, or another person.
- Duress—The juvenile defendant was forced, by a real threat of harm, into committing the act by another party.
- Entrapment—The child committed the crime because law enforcement encouraged the youth to commit a crime that they would not have committed on their own.
- Mistaken identity—Juveniles are often blamed for acts they had no part in committing due to their similarities in appearance and behaviors.
- Lack of intent—Many crimes require intent. Your child might be being blamed for an act that should be treated as an accident, not a criminal offense.
Because children and teens do not understand their rights, a violation of civil rights is often at play either during the arrest, in the police car ride to jail, or afterward during interrogation.
Call a Denver Juvenile Crime Lawyer Today
The human brain does not stop developing well past the age of 18. For males, most brains continue developing until a man’s mid to late 20s. Behavioral health and scientific communities understand that, yet our society often treats youth offenders as if they were adults. While the goal of many prosecutors is to rehabilitate or teach a juvenile through community service and education, alternative punishments may include incarceration in a juvenile detention facility, heavy fines, and even adult prison if the offense is a serious felony. To give your child the best possible chance at a successful outcome, you need to work with an experienced Denver juvenile crime lawyer. DeChant Law is here to help. Call 720-634-6789 today for a free consultation.
