The law handles juvenile offenders in a different court system, as a trial is often conducted in a specified court and a sentence is carried out in a juvenile detention center.
When your child is facing legal trouble, call The Law Office of William T. Bly for help. We work with juvenile clients all over the state who have been accused of theft, underage drinking, and more.
A criminal conviction as a juvenile can have long term consequences and can even affect college admissions. Don’t let juvenile charges hurt your child’s future, call a Maine juvenile crime lawyer right away.
Call 207-571-8146 or contact us online to schedule a consult with one of our highly skilled criminal defense & OUI lawyers, serving Southern Maine, today.
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What is considered a Juvenile Offense in Maine?
When a person under the age of 18 is charged with a crime, it is usually considered a juvenile offense. Depending on the type of crime, however, an individual may be tried as an adult in certain cases. For any type of case involving a minor, hiring a Maine criminal defense attorney is a good idea.
Although the frequency of juvenile crime has dropped in recent years, it is estimated that about 60%-80% of adolescents have engaged in this type of offense at some point or another before reaching the legal age of adulthood. This may include:
- Underage drinking
- Driving under the influence of drugs
- Underage use of tobacco products
- Drug crimes
- Destruction of property
- Disorderly conduct
- Trespassing
- Shoplifting
- Assault/sexual assault
- Robbery
Although not all of these crimes are specific to juvenile offenders, these are the most common types of offenses that underage individuals may participate in. One of the more recent offenses that can now be prosecuted under the law includes instances of “sexting,” as well. “Sexting” involves sending nude or semi-nude pictures with the use of cell phones, and can now be charged as distribution of child pornography if the person depicted in the image/video is underage.
Although many times these images are being sent to a boyfriend or a girlfriend, if they are further spread-throughout a school for instance, this may be considered a crime. If your child has been accused of a juvenile crime in Maine, don’t panic. Call the criminal defense lawyers at MCD Group. We can help you fight the charges and minimize the negative impacts associated with the charges.
Contact a Juvenile Crime Defense Lawyer in Maine
Depending on the type of offense that an underage individual has committed, they may face serious legal ramifications. An underage OUI charge, for example, can be classified as a Class B or Class C crime and could be punishable with hefty fines and time served in a detention facility. Other juvenile offenses may be handled with probation and the completion of community service. The best way to ensure you get the results you want in a juvenile criminal case is to contact a Maine criminal defense attorney immediately after an arrest.
If you or your child has been charged with a crime and is still a minor, it is important that you understand the long term effects that are associated with a juvenile conviction. Don’t let a one time mistake impact the rest of your life, call the Maine juvenile offense lawyers at The Maine Criminal Defense Group right at (207) 571-8146. We will work hard to get you great results so that your future is not marred by mistakes made while underage.
Call 207-571-8146 or contact us online to schedule a consult with one of our highly skilled criminal defense & OUI lawyers, serving Southern Maine, today.
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