Juvenile Criminal Law
Juvenile law is a highly specialized area of criminal defense. State laws provide greater protections for juveniles and make specific requirements of police and prosecutors.
If you are a juvenile under investigation or arrested for a crime, it is imperative that you contact a knowledgeable juvenile law attorney.
If you are a minor who has been arrested for a felony or misdemeanor in Georgia, you should contact an experienced juvenile attorney immediately.
According to the Judicial Branch of Georgia, "original jurisdiction of juvenile courts extends to delinquent children under the age of 17 and deprived or unruly children under the age of 18." Although there are many crimes which are illegal no matter what age the offender is, there are certain law violations which only apply to minors, such as truancy violations and breaking curfew.
Listed below are some important Georgia laws which apply to juveniles:
- If you are over 16 years old and you have sex with a person who is under the age of 16, you can be charged with statutory rape.
- It is illegal to be a runaway and live on the streets, and if charged, you may be forced to live in a detention center for juveniles and charged with truancy.
- If you are found in a place in which you do not belong, you may be considered loitering and may be charged with a misdemeanor.
- If you are a minor and out after 12 am on the weekend or 11pm on a weeknight you are in violation of curfew law and may be penalized.
Georgia's underage drinking laws were changed in 2001. Now, when people under the legal drinking age of 21 are found guilty, their licenses will be suspended rather than revoked. A minor does not need to be driving under the influence to have their license suspended. Some alcohol related violations which may result in serious consequences include:
- Purchasing alcohol
- Attempting to purchase alcohol
- Using a fake ID to purchase alcohol
- Minor in possession of alcohol
If you are approached by the police for involvement in a suspected crime, you should stay calm and level headed. Please know that as a juvenile you do have rights, which include:
- Do not resist arrest by a police officer.
- You may respectfully decline to give information or answer questions about the event.
- Ask that your attorney be present when you are asked questions.
- Do not discuss the incident or case with anyone other than your juvenile criminal defense attorney.
If you have been charged with any type of criminal offense as a juvenile, you should hire an experienced criminal defense lawyer to ensure that your case is represented by skilled and aggressive professionals. We will use our knowledge of Georgia criminal law to pursue all options to protect your legal rights.
