Homicide is a serious crime, regardless of the age of the person who has been charged. When the defendant was a minor at the time of the alleged offense, Florida authorities can under some circumstances choose to try the case as if the defendant was an adult. Trying a...
Juvenile Crimes
Program alternatives for juvenile charges
There are many alternatives to juvenile justice in Florida, depending on the circumstances of the charges. Some other options include family mediation, counseling, restitution, and restorative justice. In addition, alternative programs can be found in youth centers...
Juvenile crimes: mental health involvement
Any time a juvenile is charged with a crime in Florida, a variety of factors are aggregated about the alleged offense, criminal record, and the mental health of the juvenile. Conduct disorder is a commonly seen disorder in juveniles in the criminal justice system....
Mitigating the risk of reoffense for juveniles with ADHD
Parents all across Florida understand the daily stress and strain of raising kids, and for those whose children wrestle with a diagnosis of ADHD, the challenges can be all the more daunting. The reductions in focus, concentration and impulse control accompanying this...
Case adjudication trends are shifting for juveniles
Legislators and court officials have traditionally focused on being "tough on crime" throughout the state of Florida. And this has not been limited only to adults. Prosecutors rarely want to show any favoritism, so they tend to charge individuals as strongly as...
Advocates pushing to change law allowing arrest of 6-year-olds
No young child in Florida or anywhere else should be treated as an adult. However, some states allows children as young as 6 to be arrested for crimes. Advocates are pushing to change those laws. Children suffering unnecessary trauma In 2019, a 6-year-old in Florida...
Juvenile crimes and issues with sentencing
Juveniles may find themselves in trouble with the law for committing everything from minor misdemeanors to serious felonies. Nonviolent juvenile offenders might face harsh charges in Florida for property or drug crimes. Such penalties could have the reverse effect...
Common crimes committed by juveniles
You should be aware that rates for juvenile offenses are falling in the United States. However, juveniles in Florida can still be accused of criminal activity. If you or someone close to you has been affected in this manner, you'll want to know what to do next....
Should police have allowance to lie to children?
Residents of Fort Lauderdale and other nearby areas of Florida may want to learn more about a tactic used by police; it involves telling a lie to a juvenile in order to get a confession. Some countries, such as Germany, England and Australia have put a ban on this...
The Lower Juvenile Arrest Record in Florida Makes History
The Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) has cause to celebrate. It's efforts to address juvenile delinquency is showing signs of progress. It has invested heavily in educational and other programs that counteract criminal behavior among Florida's youth, and...