It is a very sad and difficult day for most parents when they discover that their children, whom they have worked so hard to raise, are criminal offenders. These offenses range from concealing and carrying a weapon illegally to assault to drug use. Sometimes your kid was just in the wrong place at the wrong time doing the wrong thing for the very first time. Whatever the scenario, you have to hire a criminal lawyer, and here is how you can hire the right one.
Defense for an Adolescent That Has No Record
Juvenile defense lawyers can help you, because they know how to defend teens that have no prior record. If you can, it is best to hire a criminal lawyer who specializes in juvenile offenses. Usually a lawyer with both a criminal law and juvenile law background can get your teen sentenced to community service for his or her first offense, as long as the offense does not include rape, beating someone within an inch of the victim's life or the use of a deadly weapon.
Defense for an Adolescent That Has a Record
Your child has been caught more than once doing things he or she should not. When the offenses are serious enough, you will need a criminal lawyer (such as Mark Battaglia, P.C.) instead of a juvenile defender. If you and the lawyer feel that your teen is out of control, it may be in your child's best interests to spend some time in juvenile detention or a group home for troubled teens. If you do not already decide your child's fate before the next court hearing, the judge may decide for you. Make sure you have a criminal lawyer who has worked with juvenile offenders before and is willing to work with you to get the help your child needs.
Defense for an Adolescent That Has Killed
Although this is a rare situation, it is important to know that juvenile murderers often face psychiatric evaluations and care. Practitioners of family law and criminal law can and do overlap, which would be the ideal lawyer for your troubled teen. Your family's personal records helps explain any family history of mental illness and/or mental health issues, which might affect the case.
In addition to depression and other mental health issues, children and teens are not mature enough to make rational decisions or control their emotionally charged actions. All of these factors are carefully weighed and assessed in cases where an adolescent or young child has committed homicide. Barring the discovery of any mental defect or diminished capacity, your lawyer will attempt to get the least restrictive sentence with the greatest potential for positive correction.
If you've recently moved into a new house and your neighbors are claiming you've infringed on their property line with your new fence, you may not know what to do. Sure, the idea of contacting a lawyer can be intimidating, but if your neighbors are insistent that you're on their property and you can't prove otherwise, an attorney may be the best choice. I created this site to help people just like you understand the laws surrounding property boundaries, real estate claims, and similar issues. I hope that the information here will give you some clarity as to whether or not you need to consult an attorney to protect your interests.