The criminal justice system is remarkably different for a juvenile than it is for an adult. The rules are different for juveniles. Different courts. Different judges. Different prosecutors. There are variances in the rules of procedure and in the sentencing process. You will need an attorney with substantive juvenile defense experience to help you and your child navigate through this system.
The Godding Law Office has represented juveniles charged with crimes in hundreds of hearings. We defend status and criminal offenses in Kansas and Missouri. Contact us our office in Kansas City, Missouri, to speak with a juvenile defense lawyer.
How we defend juvenile cases depends on the offenses that are being charged.
Juvenile Status Offenses
- Status offenses are crimes such as truancy, runaway, beyond parental control and failure to attend school.
- The parents can be prosecuted for a truancy violation in addition to the juvenile.
- Removing the child from the home, restitution, probation and placement with the division of family services are all possible outcomes.
We ensure that the juvenile's rights are protected and can even avoid official court actions by use of diversion and informal adjustment proceedings.
Juvenile Criminal Offenses
- Criminal offenses are crimes such as burglary, theft, drug possession, minor in possession, assault or fighting at school.
- Community service, removing the child from the home, restitution, probation and placement with the division of family services are possible outcomes.
- If the juvenile is certified as an adult, he or she is put into the adult criminal system- with the possibility of prison time or thousands of dollars in fines.
- Defending the juvenile accused of a criminal offense requires an attorney with a criminal defense background and experience as well as a strong knowledge of the juvenile system.
Certification
I work to prevent juveniles from being certified as an adult. If the charges stay in the juvenile system the records are sealed when the juvenile becomes an adult. This allows the juvenile to leave the conviction behind when they enter adulthood.
In some cases the juvenile office will attempt to certify a juvenile as an adult for a criminal charge. If this happens, regardless of age, the juvenile is put into the adult criminal system. The juvenile is placed in the county jail with adult criminals. If convicted, he or she faces prison time in the adult system and thousands of dollars of fines.
Once certified as an adult, the juvenile is treated like an adult offender. That is why it is vitally important to fight certification at every level. We try to protect the juvenile from entering the dangerous world of the adult prison system. By keeping a juvenile within the juvenile system, we also keep that juvenile from having a criminal record when they become an adult. The juvenile's record is sealed and he or she gets a chance to put the past behind them. If he or she is certified, they may never be able to have a fresh start.
To speak with a juvenile law attorney call 816-533-3531 or contact us by e-mail to schedule an initial consultation or case evaluation.