If you’re a parent whose child has been charged with a criminal offense, you probably wish you could switch places with them. We know. We’ve helped dozens of South Carolina families with the criminal defense of their juvenile following an arrest for an alleged criminal act. The fact that you’re reading this means you’re on the right track: the best thing you can do for your child and yourself following such a charge is to hire an experienced juvenile defense attorney to help shepherd your family through the juvenile justice system.
Protecting The Rights of Your Loved Ones
The consequences of a conviction for a juvenile offense can severely compromise your child’s reputation and future on many levels. It is important to understand that the juvenile justice system in South Carolina seeks to rehabilitate young offenders rather than punish them. Following a conviction for a juvenile offense, the state emphasizes counseling, supervision, and the promotion of law-abiding behavior instead of handing out long prison terms and expensive fines. This means that the law treats youthful offenses very differently than it does crimes committed by adults. However, some juvenile offenses are treated as adult criminal acts under South Carolina law if they are sufficiently egregious and your child is old enough. By calling our office, we can discuss how the law concerning juvenile offenders applies in your child’s case and what you might expect from an encounter from the juvenile justice system.
Don’t Make A Statement Without Counsel!
Children who have been arrested have the same rights as adults, including the right to not incriminate themselves. Your child should not make any statement to authorities about the alleged crime until they will have an opportunity to talk to a seasoned juvenile defense attorney in a judgement-free environment during an initial consultation. We will listen to your child’s side of the story and do everything we can to protect their rights during legal proceedings in juvenile court. If your child is likely to be tried as an adult due to having allegedly committed a violent felony, we can help you in establishing a robust criminal defense on their behalf. We have more than 20 years of experiencing in helping families leave no stone unturned in shielding their young loved ones from the consequences of an arrest. Frequently there are violations of a child’s constitutional liberties at the time of an arrest. If so, an aggressive juvenile defense attorney can be instrumental in getting a charge thrown out of court. Even when we are unable to beat charges or get them dismissed in a juvenile justice adjudication, we can often get them reduced significantly.
Call the Law Offices of Eric C. Davis at (803) 939-1340 or fill out the contact form provided to speak with an experienced Juvenile Defense attorney.
Get a hold of a skilled South Carolina juvenile defense lawyer as soon as possible to get started on a plan to protect your child’s future following their arrest for a juvenile offense. We are available for our clients around the clock whether they are long-time partners or new friends. Call us today.