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Atlanta Juvenile Crime Lawyer

Defense for Atlanta's Juveniles

It can all happen in an instant. Your son, daughter, or other significant child in your life makes a foolish decision and suddenly has criminal charges pending. Regardless of how serious these charges are, misdemeanor or felony, they have the potential to change your child's life forever.

If not handled properly, these charges will become part of a permanent criminal record that will turn up in a background check for academic admission, employment, or certain licensing or certification for union or professional jobs. It is important to consult an attorney as soon as possible to minimize the long-term impacts on the juvenile's life.

As an experienced Atlanta juvenile crime defense attorney who also has years of experience as a prosecutor on the other side, I am ready to help you or your loved one defend against juvenile charges in Fulton, DeKalb, Clayton, Gwinnett, or Cobb County, or any other jurisdiction around Atlanta, Georgia.

How are juveniles treated different than adults in court?

In Georgia, a person is charged as a juvenile if he or she was under the age of 17 years when the crime was committed. There is a very different process for the charging and trial of a juvenile, including the elimination of the jury. The reasoning behind these process modifications is to protect young offenders who may have made a poor decision at the very worst time.

By having a judge review evidence presented by both the prosecution and defense, it is a less intimidating proceeding, at least in theory. Despite the distinct trial track that applies to a juvenile offender, he or she still faces the presentation of evidence by a prosecutor and the law applicable to the specific crime does not change. Therefore, it is critical that the person representing your child's interests is knowledgeable in the specifics of the juvenile court system and can obtain the best results possible.

Although there are many different scenarios that could result in your loved one being charged with a crime, the following types of crimes are the ones most frequently committed by minors:

There are serious crimes, including armed robbery and murder, when the prosecutor will request that the juvenile be charged as an adult. In this situation, you want to be sure that the attorney representing your child not only is an experienced juvenile crimes attorney, but also that she is able to argue against the trial of a minor as an adult. In the worst case scenario, she needs to be able to represent your child in a regular criminal court case, where he is being tried as an adult.

Let Attorney Tanya F. Miller Come to Your Aid - Free Evaluation

Criminal charges as a juvenile does not mean it is not the end of the world. An experienced attorney can help you pursue a dismissal or minimization of the fines and sentence. Knowing when to negotiate a favorable outcome is a very important skill. It also is critical that an attorney work with you and your child to complete any terms of the sentence in order to get the juvenile's record sealed or expunged if it qualifies under the new record restriction guidelines. The requirements to qualify for an expungement are extremely rigid; however, it is the means to clear the path for future success.

The Law Office of Tanya F. Miller, LLC will represent your child with the right long-term focus and goals in order to limit the impact on your child's present and eliminate its impact on the future. Call 404-720-8111today!