When most people hear on the news that crime is on the rise in their area, their minds tend to conjure up images of disgruntled adults resorting to drastic – and illegal - measures. Little do some folks realize just how many juvenile defendants wind up working their way through the legal system each year as the result of some very foolish moves and circumstances.
It’s a sad fact that a fair percentage of today’s offenders include those who fall into the juvenile category. As an experienced criminal defense attorney in Rockville, Maryland, Jennifer B. Page is no stranger to juvenile defendants. According to her, it takes a very specific type of lawyer to be able to work with defendants who are under the age of 18.
In Page’s opinion, the important thing for criminal defense lawyers to remember about juvenile defendants is that, simply put, they are not adults. Juveniles are far more likely than adults to lack both emotional maturity and common sense, which is why so many end up committing crimes and getting into trouble with the law as a result. However, when it comes to walking people through the legal system, Page believes that juvenile defendants should be handled, to an extent, with kid gloves. In fact, she likes to employ what she refers to as her “tough love” approach – she’ll hold her young defendants’ hands as they work their way through the system, but she won’t sugarcoat the often harsh consequences of getting caught engaging in criminal acts.
When it comes to juvenile defendants, Page also acknowledges the fact that her client base tends to be quite varied. For some defendants under the age of 18, their first offense is one that will ultimately serve as a warning to never commit a crime again. Others, however, may not have as easy a time learning from their initial mistakes. The thing that people should realize about the juvenile court system is that its goal is not to punish offenders, but rather to help rehabilitate them and become respectable members of society. As a criminal defense attorney who caters to juveniles, Page feels that it is her duty to remind her younger clients of this fact as she walks them through the system and tries to help them emerge from their situations as unscathed as possible. In her mind, she has a responsibility to explain to her juvenile defendants that it isn’t too late to start over, and that their futures aren’t necessarily ruined just because they managed to get themselves into legal hot water once (or more) during their youth.
Of course, Page will also be the first to admit that younger defendants can sometimes be more stubborn than adult clients, and from time to time she does come across some who perpetually fail to see the error of their illegal ways. In those types of situations, all Page can do is try her best to fight for her clients while reminding them that while the juvenile court system is designed to rehabilitate people, the adult court system is a completely different beast.
According to Page, the penalties inherent in the adult court system are going to be far worse when compared to those that are part of the juvenile system. And, while she’s happy to do her fair share of hand-holding to put young minds at ease, she also feels the need to inform her juvenile clients that if they don’t shape up, they’re likely to face some pretty harsh consequences down the line. Still, in Page’s experience, there are always those who are going simply refuse to listen or insist that they know better, and while she constantly strives to help her clients see the light, sometimes she, too, has no choice but to do her best to set people on the right path and then simply leave things at that.
Dealing with juvenile defendants involves a fair amount of patience, the right type of skill, and a caring yet firm attitude. If a loved one of yours ends up in trouble in the law, then you’ll want to find an attorney who is experienced in dealing with children under the age of 18.
Remember, the right criminal defense attorney has the power to not only get your loved one the best possible outcome given his situation, but to set him on the right path towards personal rehabilitation. Most importantly, an attorney who has worked with juvenile defendants will understand that after all is said and done, juvenile defendants are only children, and that every child out there deserves a second chance.
This article is for informational purposes only. You should not rely on this article as a legal opinion on any specific facts or circumstances, and you should not act upon this information without seeking professional counsel. Neither publication of this article nor your receipt of this article creates an attorney-client relationship.
