Category Archives: Juvenile Law
Will A 17-Year-Old Be Charged As An Adult In Florida?
Every parent knows that teenagers can get themselves into trouble. According to data from the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, there are more than 30,000 arrests made of minors annually in Florida. What happens when a 17-year-old is arrested? Will they be charged as an adult? As a baseline, the answer is “no”—however, prosecutors… Read More »
Was Your Teenager Arrested In Central Florida? Four Mistakes To Avoid As A Parent
Teenagers can get themselves into trouble. An arrest of a teenager could lead to serious long-term consequences in Florida—especially if a teen is facing certain types of criminal charges. Florida has a specialized process for juvenile justice. Parents need to be ready to help their kid navigate the system. In this article, our Orlando… Read More »
What To Know About Underage Drinking Charges In Florida (Minor In Possession)
It is no secret that many teenagers consume alcohol. According to data from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), seven million American young people—ages 12 to 20—report that they have consumed a significant amount of alcohol within the past 30 days. While it may not be rare, that does not make… Read More »
What To Do If Your Child Gets Arrested In Central Florida
It is no secret that children can get themselves into trouble. According to data from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), nearly one million minors enter the juvenile justice system each year nationwide. For parents, there are very few things more stressful than finding out that their child has been arrested…. Read More »
Can A Court Order Me To Pay Restitution If My Child Commits A Crime?
While prison is often the form of punishment that concerns criminal defendants the most, it is worth noting that jail is not the only way a court can hold an offender accountable for their actions. Florida law authorizes a court to award restitution–i.e., financial compensation–to the victims of any criminal act. The prosecution must… Read More »
Can My Child Be Arrested For “Trespassing” On School Grounds During A Suspension?
Florida’s juvenile justice system often puts minors between a rock and a hard place. While minors lack the legal ability to make most decisions for themselves, they may still find themselves in trouble due to the actions of their parents. Unfortunately, certain criminal laws may impose liability on a minor even in a situation… Read More »
Supreme Court Pulls Back on Constitutional Protections for Juvenile Offenders
The United States is the only country on Earth that allows individuals to receive sentences of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for crimes committed as juveniles. Although several individual states have banned this practice in recent years, Florida and many other states keep “juvenile life with parole” on their books. And due… Read More »
Widespread Corruption and Abuse in Florida’s Juvenile Justice System
In July, four juveniles and one employee from Florida’s Walton Academy for Growth and Change—a facility run by a company known as Rite of Passage for the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice—were arrested and charged for “lewd and lascivious battery” and false imprisonment of a minor at the facility. Sadly, this is not the… Read More »
Florida Teen Suicide Raises Questions about Charging Minors with Cyberbullying
In January, two Florida students were charged with cyberstalking (i.e. online bullying) in connection with the death of a middle-school student who killed herself earlier that month. While police are still investigating the exact cause of death, reportedly, once police were made aware of potential cyberbullying, they insisted upon closely examining cellphone and social… Read More »
Tampa Forum Highlights Much-Needed Reforms for Florida’s Juvenile Justice System
On December 11th, a criminal justice reform forum was held in Tampa, with a focus on changing the way Florida treats juvenile offenders. Florida currently sends more children to prison than any other state, where many of the punishments they meet do not fit the crime. Just since 2009, more than 14,000 minors have… Read More »
