Fairfax Attorney for Under-18 Defendants
The juvenile courts in Virginia are much more flexible than the adult criminal courts. Although the juvenile justice system has gotten more harsh in recent years, it still provides alleged juvenile delinquents with opportunities for rehabilitation and the avoidance of a criminal record.
I'm Lance D. Gardner, a Fairfax-based criminal defense attorney with more than 25 years of juvenile experience. If your child has been charged with a crime, I will do everything in my power to steer his or her case in the right direction. Contact me today for a free consultation.
Seeking the Best Possible Outcome for Your Child
Any given juvenile criminal case has the potential for a number of different outcomes. The assistance of an experienced juvenile defense lawyer can make a huge difference in determining what happens to your child. Possible outcomes include the following:
- Probation: In most cases, if the court finds that a juvenile has committed a crime, he or she will be placed on probation and may be required to attend counseling, pay restitution or perform community service, as well as comply with certain specific restrictions.
- Deferred disposition: Juvenile court judges have the discretion to defer findings of delinquency while juveniles are serving probation or completing rehabilitation programs. If rehabilitation is deemed successful, juvenile charges can be dismissed or vacated.
- Juvenile detention: While this is considered a last resort in most juvenile crime cases, a juvenile can and will be placed in a detention facility if the judge believes it necessary.
- Adult prosecution: If a child aged 14 or over is accused of a felony crime, the juvenile court can transfer the case to adult criminal court. Trying a child as an adult is a very serious matter and is most common in cases where there are allegations of violence.
In the average juvenile case, my priority is to avoid a finding of juvenile delinquency by getting the judge to continue the case while my client completes rehabilitation. Of course, there are some cases where it is possible to contest juvenile charges on the evidence.
If your child has been accused of a crime, don't hesitate to contact me to discuss what I can do to pursue a positive outcome. Let me help you and your child today.
