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Juvenile Delinquency
Central Florida Juvenile Defense. Juvenile defense in Orlando, and surrounding areas. The juvenile justice system is very different from the adult criminal justice system. In some respects that is good for those children who find themselves accused of criminal offenses, and in other respects it is not so good. One of the negatives is the nature of trial proceedings in the Juvenile system. Any juvenile who is arrested in Orlando, Kissimmee, Lake Buena Vista, Ocoee, Winter Park, Windermere, Apopka, Maitland, Casselberry, Altamonte Springs, Longwood, Oviedo, Sanford, Winter Springs, New Smyrna Beach, Port Orange, DeBary, Deland, Deltona, Titusville, Cocoa, Cocoa Beach, Rockledge, Melbourne,
West Melbourne, Cape Canaveral, Satellite Beach, Palm Bay, Indialantic, Melbourne Beach, Indian Harbour Beach, Malabar, Palm Shores, Orange County, Osceola County, Seminole County, Volusia County, or Brevard County Florida, and formally charged by the State of Florida in Juvenile Court, is not entitled to a trial by a jury. In fact, there are no juries in the Juvenile Court system. The question as to the child's guilt is solely up to the trial judge.
It is not all bad for those children who find themselves arrested and charged with crimes in juvenile court. Frequently, the penalties for first or second-time offenders are significantly less harsh than an equivalent adult citizen would be facing. Unfortunately, many children are ultimately taken away from their families and placed into Juvenile Commitment Programs for a very significant amount of time (up until a child's 22nd birthday in the case of placement into a maximum risk program. Additionally, a felony conviction as a juvenile could impact a child's ability to obtain educational financial aid later in life.
A juvenile offense is a serious matter with potentially life-changing consequences, and no person should attempt to resolve their case without first consulting with an attorney. If your son or daughter has been cited or arrested for a juvenile criminal offense in Orlando, Orange County, Osceola County, Seminole County, Volusia County, or Brevard County Florida, contact the ByrdLaw Firm for a free consultation.
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