Minneapolis Juvenile Criminal Defense Lawyer
When most people think about juvenile crimes, they don’t always think that they are as serious. Most of the time, juveniles don’t go to jail, they go to juvenile detention centers.
Because of this, there are some parents who won’t even hire a lawyer. However, that could be a big mistake. Here are some reasons why you need to hire a criminal lawyer for any juvenile crime that is committed.
A lawyer will fight to get your charges dropped. If you hire a good lawyer, he or she might be able to get your charges dropped completely, so you won’t have a record that haunts you for the rest of your life.
If that isn’t possible, he or she will work hard to get you the least amount of punishment possible. A good lawyer will do everything that he or she can to keep you out of jail or even a juvenile detention center.
Your lawyer’s goal will be to get you the least amount of punishment possible. He or she will fight to get you just a few months of probation, instead of years, along with fewer fines. Though many worry about jail time, fines can reach several thousands of dollars (if not more), and that can be really hard to pay.
Juveniles go in front of a judge, not a jury. Though many people fear going in front of a jury, there are times when a judge can be equally (if not more) intimidating. Lawyers are able to talk to both judges and juries to help prove innocence so you shouldn’t even try to do it on your own.
Without a lawyer, you may be tried as an adult. Your lawyer will fight for you so that you are tried as a juvenile instead of an adult. If you have to go to trial as an adult, you are looking at jail time and other serious consequences.
Though you may not agree, juvenile crimes can be quite serious, with serious consequences. They can affect the rest of your (or your child’s) life. If you are convicted of a serious crime, you could spend time in jail and face fines, though that isn’t it.
If you are convicted, you may struggle to find a place to live. Many rental places don’t want criminals in their buildings. You may also have trouble getting a loan for a car or a house when you decide to buy one. Many employers won’t take a chance on someone who was convicted of a crime so you might face periods of unemployment and working dead-end jobs when you get lucky enough to be hired.
If you committed a sexual crime, you could spend the rest of your life registered as a sexual offender, which also limits what you can do and where you can live.
You shouldn’t ever face a judge or jury without a lawyer. He or she will fight for you! If your lawyer can’t get your charges dropped, he or she may be able to get you less punishment. Even better, they will fight so that you aren’t charged as an adult.
Though most people don’t really think about it, if you get convicted of a crime as a juvenile, your whole life is going to change. Not only are you looking at probation and fines, but you are also going to have a record for the rest of your life. You are going to struggle to find a place to live and a job to support yourself. You may also have to register as a sexual offender for the rest of your life, which can really change how people look at you!
Contact us for all of your legal needs. We will do everything that we can so your crime won’t affect the rest of your life.
