Juvenile Help
No parent wants to receive the phone call informing them that their child has been placed under arrest on suspicion of a juvenile offense. Unfortunately, many parents do receive this call, as statistics indicate that juvenile courts across Utah have heard more than 55,000 cases in a single year. These cases can range from relatively minor infractions to serious violent felonies, however, every case can have serious consequences
for your child and their future, so it is imperative that your child has the highest quality of juvenile defense possible.
If you need any type of juvenile help in Salt Lake City, it is critical that you discuss your situation with an experienced juvenile attorney as soon as you can so they can begin working on your child’s case.
Common Crimes For Juveniles
The following is some information regarding the most frequent criminal allegations for which juveniles are arrested in SLC, according to the Utah Juvenile Courts. While many of these offenses may seem relatively minor, you should recognize that they can still all result in serious criminal penalties.
- Theft or shoplifting — There is a wide variety of theft crimes that involve stealing including shoplifting, which involves stealing from a retail establishment.
- Trespass or burglary — Both of these charges result from entering or remaining on the property without permission, though burglary charges can arise if authorities believe your child intended to commit a crime on the premises.
- Underage possession of tobacco or alcohol — Utah is one of the few states that has raised the legal age for tobacco to 19, while the legal drinking age is 21. Any juvenile in possession of either tobacco or alcohol can face serious consequences.
- Possession of marijuana — Marijuana is illegal for any person of any age in Utah and possession of even a small amount can result in license suspension, fines, detention, and many collateral consequences.
- Assault — Though many people are of the opinion that kids will fight, doing so can result in criminal convictions and penalties.
- Curfew violation — Generally speaking, Utah has a state curfew of midnight unless a specific town or city mandates otherwise. Anyone under 18 and not accompanied by an adult who is out after 12 a.m. can face curfew violation charges.
In addition to the above offenses, teens also commonly receive citations for violating traffic laws. Speeding, failure to yield, failure to obey traffic signals, and more are all common traffic offenses among juveniles. Traffic tickets may not seem serious, however, if not properly handled, they can result in surprisingly serious penalties, such as suspension of the driver’s license and costly fines. Moreover, if your child tries to hide the fact they got a ticket and ignores their court date, they could have a warrant out for their arrest and face additional charges.
Contact A Utah Family Law Lawyer In Salt Lake City As Soon As Possible
If your child has been accused of a crime in or around Salt Lake City, you are likely experiencing an extreme concern for your child’s well-being and future. The experienced juvenile defense attorneys at CoilLaw, LLC in Salt Lake City understand how to navigate the complex juvenile court system and how to provide the most effective defense for your child possible. We can help your family in this type of situation, so please do not hesitate to call our office at (801) 884-3775 today.
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