Top Detroit, MI Juvenile Law Lawyers Near You
Strong Defense for Serious Cases. We Understand What's at Stake. Put Your Trust in Our Long Track Record of Success!
101 E Grand River Ave, Fowlerville, MI 48836
Other Nearby Offices
Assisting people in Michigan with their Juvenile needs. Learn More.
Free Consultation
3000 Town Center, Suite 1330, Southfield, MI 48075
For those working through a Juvenile issue in the Detroit, Michigan area, Lewis & Dickstein, P.L.L.C. can be your partner in law.
Free Consultation
Virtual Appointments
26339 Woodward Ave, Huntington Woods, MI 48070
39111 West Six Mile Road, Livonia, MI 48152
6050 Greenfield Road, Suite 201, Dearborn, MI 48126
44 1st St, Mount Clemens, MI 48043
3155 W. Big Beaver Road, Suite 123, Troy, MI 48084
500 Griswold St, Suite 2300, Detroit, MI 48226
30445 Northwestern Highway, Suite 225, Farmington Hills, MI 48334
4000 Town Center, Suite 1350, Southfield, MI 48075
444 S. Washington Ave, Royal Oak, MI 48067
3150 Livernois Rd, Suite 126, Troy, MI 48083
150 West Jefferson Avenue, Suite 100, Detroit, MI 48226
1000 S. Old Woodward Avenue, Ste 103, Birmingham, MI 48009
17515 W 9 Mile Rd, Suite 250, Southfield, MI 48075
500 Woodward Avenue, Suite 4000, Detroit, MI 48226-3425
28 W. Adams Ave, Suite 1500, Detroit, MI 48226
200 Renaissance Center, Suite 3110, Detroit, MI 48243-1301
1441 West Long Lake Road, Suite 310, Troy, MI 48098
42400 Grand River Ave, Ste 109, Novi, MI 48375
301 West Fourth Street, Suite 430, Royal Oak, MI 48067
660 Woodward Avenue, 2290 First National Building, Detroit, MI 48226
1155 Brewery Park Blvd, Suite 200, Detroit, MI 48207
9042 Lewis Avenue, Suite 5, PO Box 490, Temperance, MI 48182
8424 Twelve Mile Rd, Suite 200, Warren, MI 48093
Detroit Juvenile Law Information
Lead Counsel independently verifies Juvenile Law attorneys in Detroit and checks their standing with Michigan bar associations.
Our Verification Process and Criteria
Ample Experience
Attorneys must meet stringent qualifications and prove they practice in the area of law they’re verified in.Good Standing
Be in good standing with their bar associations and maintain a clean disciplinary record.Annual Review
Submit to an annual review to retain their Lead Counsel Verified status.Client Commitment
Pledge to follow the highest quality client service and ethical standards.
Dealing With Juvenile Law Issues?
If your child is facing criminal charges, it is important to get the best legal representation possible because a criminal record will follow your child as each educational and employment opportunity becomes available. A juvenile attorney will be able to help your family seek a resolution that protects your child’s current best interests and their future prospects.
Who Qualifies As a Juvenile?
In terms of criminal law and the definitions surrounding juvenile offenses, most states and the federal government consider those who have not yet turned 18 years of age to be juveniles. Three states — Georgia, Texas and Wisconsin — instead restrict the protections afforded to juvenile offenders to those aged 16 or younger.
There is also a provision that allows those who are older than 18, but younger than 21, to claim legal juvenile status if they are being charged with an offense that was commissioned before the defendant attained the age of majority.
What Are Some Types of Juvenile Crime?
According to the Department of Justice, some of the most common offenses conducted by juvenile offenders include simple assault, disorderly conduct, drug-related crimes, weapons-related offenses, vandalism, liquor law violations and various forms of theft (burglary, automobile theft, etc.).
Juveniles are generally capable of committing any crime that an adult might. However, certain juvenile offenses (say, being in possession of alcohol) are offenses related strictly to the age of the individual in possession. Juvenile crime related to statutory rape (between two minors) can also be a form of offense that so-called “Romeo and Juliet” laws were enacted to combat.
Different Types of Juvenile Charges
Juveniles can be charged with any criminal offense; same as an adult, but their cases are usually handled in the Juvenile Courts. Some juvenile law charges include underage possession of alcohol, drug crimes, gang involvement, vandalism and juvenile DUI. Other juvenile law-related issues include disciplinary actions at school and foster care issues.
A juvenile lawyer can also provide direction for juveniles and their families to programs that will help the juvenile’s defense by minimizing the risk of the youth from re-offending and preventing future criminal behavior issues.
What Are the Possible Penalties for Juvenile Offenses in Michigan?
While juvenile offenders (or juvenile delinquents, if deemed so from a legal perspective) are afforded some protections (exempt from serving time in prison unless tried and convicted as an adult, for more serious offenses, where applicable) they do remain culpable for crimes committed.
A juvenile offender who is convicted could be facing court-order probation, mandatory counseling or therapy sessions, mandatory drug or alcohol rehabilitation, fines or monetary restitution, community service or even a term in detention (also termed “residence facilities”).
In situations where a juvenile is being tried as an adult, the sentencing is typically expected to match the severity of the crime. Despite the surprising frequency of this occurrence (generally for the most severe offenses, or for extreme incidences of repeat offenses), some such instances become high-profile cases with the attendant media exposure.
When Are Juveniles Tried As Adults?
In order to be tried as an adult, juvenile offenders must be meted out a waiver to adult court. Most states require that a juvenile offender be the age of 16 (though some states have no age limit appended to more serious charges, such as murder) in order for such a waiver to be handed down by the court.
Reasons for a juvenile being tried as an adult include, but are not limited to: the commission of a very grave or serious offense such as rape or murder, the offender having a lengthy juvenile record or a number of failed rehabilitation attempts having been made in the past.
It is estimated that approximately 250,000 juvenile offenders are tried as adults, per year, in the United States.
Can Juveniles Get Life Sentences or the Death Penalty?
As a result of several relatively recent Supreme Court decisions, juvenile offenders are not able to be sentenced to death, nor sentenced to life in prison without parole in response to any crime other than those related to homicide.
What Does a Juvenile Crime Lawyer Do?
A juvenile crime lawyer or criminal defense attorney is familiar with established case law, past precedent, and current statutes surrounding juvenile delinquency. These attorneys specialize in defending juvenile clients facing charges and can help defendants to navigate the juvenile justice system.
All juveniles facing court due to alleged offenses are entitled to an attorney, regardless of their ability — or the ability of their parents or guardians — to pay. It is extremely important to secure adequate legal representation if you are facing charges as a juvenile. If found guilty of the offenses levied against you, depending on the severity of the charges, you could be placed in detention or even tried as an adult, as exhibited above.
The creation of a criminal record as a result of having been tried, and convicted, as an adult can be extremely damaging to any young man or woman. Therefore, it’s important to work with a criminal defense lawyer.