In general, the juvenile criminal justice system is geared toward the rehabilitation of a minor rather than his or her punishment per se. As a result, prosecutors, judges and case workers are typically willing to consider alternatives to juvenile detention and lock-up when it's clear that what a misguided teen needs is counseling and help. At Ross & Pines, LLC, our juvenile defense lawyers work closely with counselors, psychologists, social workers, and other professionals in helping young people get a second chance. Depending on the nature of a juvenile's crime, we may be able to convince the court to sentence a young person to community service, counseling, and extended monitoring in lieu of lock-up or being charged as an adult.
If your son or daughter has a pending juvenile case, contact a juvenile defense attorney at the law office of Ross & Pines, LLC today to schedule a free, confidential consultation.
Our Juvenile Criminal Defense Practice
We represent juveniles in regard to the following kinds of juvenile offenses:
- Vandalism
- Drug Possession
- Marijuana
- Cocaine
- Heroin
- Ecstasy
- Underage Drinking
- Shoplifting / Theft
- Arson
- Sexual Assault
- Rape
- Homicide
When Juveniles Could Potentially Be Charged as Adults
Under Georgia state law, juveniles can be charged as adults when certain crimes are alleged to have occurred. When dealing with juveniles charged as adults under Georgia's SB-440 law, our attorneys employ a number of resources and strategies to contextualize what happened and explain how a young person could have acted in such a manner in order to get the case out of adult court and back into juvenile court. For instance, was the youth abused as a child? Does he or she come from a broken home? Were drugs involved? Has the teen demonstrated a strong tendency toward violence in the past? What is his or her criminal record?
In challenging a youth's being charged as an adult, we ask the a psychological evaluation be undertaken in order to determine if there are extenuating circumstances that may play a role in a youth's criminal behavior. In general, our office has been successful in getting cases taken out of adult court and sent back to juvenile court.
A Second Chance for Your Son or Daughter
While it depends on the nature of the crime, in many instances our juvenile defense attorneys can convince the court during a pre-trial motion to dismiss the charges against him or her. This often requires that a young person enter a drug or alcohol program, make progress in school, and be put on probation for a certain amount of time.
We can help you help your son or daughter — contact a juvenile defense attorney at Ross & Pines, LLC today for a free consultation.
