Los Angeles Juvenile Crime Attorney

Juvenile Criminal Defense Lawyer in Los Angeles

When a minor is arrested for a criminal offense, he/she faces different criminal procedures than an adult. For this reason, it is important to consult with a defense attorney who has experience specifically with defending juvenile crimes if your child has been arrested.

An important difference between the juvenile court system and the adult court system is that a juvenile criminal case may be dismissed at any stage of the process, by the arresting officer, by a detention officer or by a juvenile hall intake officer. This means that consulting a Los Angeles juvenile defense lawyer immediately will be in your child’s best interests. By working with a lawyer as soon as possible, you open up the possibility of having your child’s case dismissed before it ever goes to juvenile court.

Children and teenagers are often impressionable and subject to peer pressure on a regular basis. They may make mistakes. They may simply be in the wrong place at the wrong time and are suspected of committing a criminal offense as a result. Whatever the circumstances that led to your son or daughter's arrest or charges, it is crucial to seek legal counsel on their behalf. Instead of allowing your child to face punishment for a crime he or she did not commit, and instead of letting unfairly harsh penalties be imposed if your child simply made a mistake, involve an attorney who can protect your child from undue punishment and facing life with a criminal record. If you are dealing with any matter related to a juvenile crime in the Los Angeles area, call our firm or contact us online and find out how we can assist you.

Vandalism
Vandalism may be described as intentionally and maliciously destroying, defacing or damaging another's property without the owner's permission. Graffiti, breaking windows, carving letters into wood, or scratching a car with a key may all be considered forms of vandalism. Depending on the value of property damaged or destroyed, as well as the reason for the offense in the first place (such as for reasons of racial prejudice), a juvenile offender may face harsh penalties for vandalism. In some cases it may even be charged as a felony. The harsh repercussions of an arrest or juvenile charges for vandalism make it absolutely crucial to involve an attorney. In juvenile court proceedings in the Los Angeles area, a competent lawyer can protect a minor's legal rights and future, helping him or her to avoid having an offense of this kind on his or her record. Click here to read more about vandalism.

Why a juvenile criminal defense lawyer?

Why should you consult a Los Angeles juvenile crimes lawyer as soon as you are aware that your child has been arrested or is a suspect in any type of criminal investigation? By consulting a lawyer quickly, you give your child the best opportunity of avoiding juvenile hall or imprisonment in a state juvenile institution. Not only that, the outcome of your child’s case can and will affect his/her life as an adult and the opportunities he/she is presented with. A criminal record may affect educational, financial and employment opportunities.

Give your child the best chance at a bright future by consulting a Los Angeles juvenile crimes attorney at Okabe & Haushalter, where our experienced attorneys will fight for your child’s rights. Our offices are conveniently located in Redondo Beach and Beverly Hills.

At our firm, we believe in the principle that the juvenile court system was designed with rehabilitation, not punishment, in mind. As such, we always strive to work with the prosecutors and judges in the juvenile criminal system in order to help our clients get rehabilitated rather than receive maximum penalties for their offenses. In lieu of proving factual innocence or having criminal charges dropped altogether, we will pursue minor penalties which will have the least likelihood of interrupting your child’s life and future.

Our Los Angeles juvenile defense lawyers handle cases throughout all of Los Angeles, California, including such cities as Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, Torrance, Long Beach, Santa Monica, Manhattan Beach, Lomita, Palos Verdes and El Segundo.

Defense for Juvenile Crimes in Los Angeles

There are a number of criminal offenses which may qualify as juvenile crimes in Los Angeles, California. This includes adult crimes, such as assault, vandalism, drug possession, DUI and murder, as well as status offenses which are only against the law because of the minor’s age (truancy, running away, curfew violations.)

In some cases, a judge and prosecutor may push to have a juvenile tried as an adult for his/her crime. In these cases, more than ever, a Los Angeles juvenile crimes defense attorney will play a major role in protecting your child.

Contact a Los Angeles juvenile crime lawyer at our law offices to find out how we can protect your child’s rights and future!