Fort Worth Juvenile Defense Lawyer

When your child is facing criminal charges, you would do anything to make the situation go away. Unfortunately, the only things you can really do to help your child at this time are be there for support and hire an experienced Fort Worth juvenile defense attorney.

Facing criminal charges is a terrifying prospect no matter your age, but for juveniles, this situation is even scarier. They really have no understanding of the criminal justice system, and they may not fully comprehend the seriousness of what they’ve done. Regardless of the charge your child is facing, you can get legal help.

A Fort Worth juvenile defense lawyer from the Law Offices of Jeff C. Kennedy can help you and your child understand the juvenile justice system and make this experience a little less terrifying. Your attorney will also attempt to minimize any legal penalties and, in some cases, may be able to get the charges dropped.

The Penalties Juvenile Offenders Face

The criminal justice system is a little different for minors than it is for adults, and that’s a good thing. The courts understand that kids sometimes make mistakes, that they don’t fully appreciate the consequences of their actions, and that a mistake shouldn’t affect the rest of their lives, the way it would for adults.

That’s why the juvenile court system focuses much more strongly on rehabilitation, treatment, and teaching a lesson than on using punishment as an overall motivator for minors.

Still, depending on the charge, minors can face some legal consequences. They could be facing any of the following:

• Time in a juvenile detention facility
• Substantial fines
• Community service
• Being placed on a juvenile probation supervision program
• Undergoing treatment and submitting to drug or alcohol screenings

Getting legal help from a Fort Worth juvenile crime attorney may make all the difference in your child’s life. It is possible to avoid conviction—especially with a good defense.

What Are the Goals of the Juvenile Justice System in Fort Worth?

The goals with regards to juvenile justice are as follows:

• To provide for the development and care of a child
• To remove some of the stigma that may be associated with criminal acts committed by a child
• To only separate a child from the parents when absolutely necessary and to provide adequate care
• To ensure the child’s rights are upheld and that he or she undergoes a simple judicial process and receives a fair hearing

Get in Touch with a Fort Worth Juvenile Criminal Defense Attorney

It may help you to realize that, although the criminal charge your child is facing is scary, the laws are in place to protect the public—not to do irreparable harm to your child. You can get help fighting your child’s charges so he or she won’t have to go through the embarrassment and psychological harm a conviction could cause in his or her life.

Get ahold of a Fort Worth juvenile defense lawyer at the Law Offices of Jeff C. Kennedy. Give us a call at 817-605-1010 or fill out the online contact form at the bottom of this page to schedule a consultation with our firm.