Many parents naturally worry that their child will be charged as an adult, especially if they are close to turning 18. If your child is under 15, they cannot be charged as an adult unless they have committed a very serious offense and the prosecutor chooses to try them as an adult. Ultimately, the judge in the adult court has the authority to decide whether they will hear the case in adult court or send the case back to family court.
Naturally, trying the case in juvenile court is preferable because it expands your child’s legal options, and juvenile sentences tend to be more compassionate and lenient than sentences for adults. Unlike the adult court system, juvenile justice focuses on a child’s rehabilitation capacity. If the prosecutor in your child’s case decides to try your child as an adult, our attorneys will fight tooth and nail to keep the case in family court.