Kansas City Juvenile Defense Lawyers
Minor Charged with DUI, Shoplifting, Fighting or Drug Possession in Olathe
Although the juvenile justice system is supposed to be about rehabilitation and promoting the best interests of the child, increasingly it has become punitive and minors are being treated like adult offenders. Safeguard your child's future by hiring a criminal defense lawyer with years of experience defending juveniles.
More and more each day, juveniles charged with crimes are being treated as harshly as adults, and in some cases, worse. When our attorneys represent young people charged with crimes, we defend the juvenile as vigorously as possible and protect his or her rights.
In many cases, the experience when serious charges are brought against a juvenile can be even more difficult for the parent than the child. In fact, it is not unusual that the parents are extremely conflicted about the matter because they want their child to have some consequences, learn and grow as a person, but at the same time they do not want the matter to have adverse consequences for their child in the years to come. A parent can be even more conflicted about what should happen in cases where they are the victim of their child's crime. We make sure that juveniles and their parents understand the process as well as the possible consequences. The ultimate goal is to prevent the juvenile from offending again, of course, but we have to ensure that the child is not scarred for life. Our client, after all, is a child. If your child has been charged with a crime, do not leave the outcome to chance. Contact a Kansas juvenile defense lawyer who will protect your child's future.
Our experience defending minors charged with crimes is extensive. While working as an Assistant District Attorney before going into private practice, Trey spent over two years prosecuting juveniles. Trey has given dozens of lectures over the years on juvenile defense and juvenile rights in the legal system. Ryan currently gives monthly lectures on children's rights under the juvenile code.
Juvenile crimes
We have represented juveniles charged with virtually every crime from murder to...
- Shoplifting
- rape, indecent liberties, sodomy and other serious sex crimes
- Fighting
- Minor in possession of alcohol or illegal drugs
- DUI
- Arson
The consequences of a juvenile conviction
Juveniles have rights just as adults do, when they are charged with a crime. Because of their age or their level of maturity, many times they don't understand them. Even an adjudication for a seemingly minor matter can lead to out of home placement, intensive probation, counseling, or anger-management classes. While these kinds of punishments may be helpful in turning a kid around, they can also draw him or her deeper into the juvenile justice system. A juvenile convicted of a sex offense may be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. At our law firm, we do everything possible to keep children out of the system, including trials or negotiating for reduced charges and reduced penalties.
We have a lot of experience representing juveniles charged with sex crimes which not only can result in your child being remanded to a Youth Correctional Facility, but also involve offenses that will stay on your child's record for their entire life. We have extensive experience representing juvenile in trials and helping clients avoid having to register as a sex offender just like adult offenders.
Do not leave your child's future to chance
Contact an experienced criminal defense lawyer right away if your child is arrested and investigated for any offense. We know what to do, from defending the young person in trial or negotiating an appropriate plea and disposition. Contact the Law Offices of N. Trey Pettlon, III. We can help.
War Stories:
1. J.C. was charged with rape. The case was weak. The State's theory was that J.C. had helped another friend commit the rape and although he didn't participate, he was guilty by aiding and abetting his friend. Traditionally it was very difficult to get a prosecutor in juvenile court to dismiss a weak case because juveniles did not have an absolute right to a jury trial, and it was easy for a prosecutor to present evidence in a short trial to a judge. Juveniles could request a jury trial but up until the law changed with a Kansas Supreme Court decision in 2009, juvenile requests for jury trial in Johnson County District Court were routinely denied. In fact, there had never been a juvenile jury trial in the history of the Johnson County juvenile courts. In 2008, Judge Sheldon granted J.C.'s request for jury trial in this weak rape case. Faced with the task of proving the charge in a two or three day jury trial, rather than a two hour trial to a judge, the DA dismissed the rape charge. Thankfully, with the increasingly punitive nature of juvenile laws, the Kansas Supreme Court has since ruled that it is unconstitutional to deprive juveniles of an absolute right to a jury trial.
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