Charleston Juvenile Crimes Attorney
Juvenile Crime Cases in South Carolina
In most states, anyone under the age of 18 will be charged as a minor. Unfortunately South Carolina is different and will charge anyone over 16 as an adult in most instances. As soon as someone is no longer a “youthful offender,” the court moves from the ideals of reform and rehabilitation and shifts its goals to punishment and imprisonment. I am an experienced Charleston criminal lawyer and I can help convince the courts to try children under 18 as juveniles and convince adult courtrooms that youths need to be rehabilitated, not locked away.
While adult offenders generally recognize the immediate and long-term consequences of their actions, few minors fully understand either. They assume the worst punishment for most crimes will result in a school suspension or a short sentence in a juvenile detention facility. Few consider that many crimes result in long-term sentences in juvenile detention centers that will result in a transfer to a state prison when they reach adulthood. More than anything else, few teens or pre-teens consider their future. They do not understand that a criminal conviction can affect their job prospects, their ability to get into college and their ability to find suitable housing. While most children claim they don’t want to be stuck living with their parents for the rest of their life, this just might happen when they are convicted of a crime. A Charleston juvenile crimes attorney can help.
I have helped clients of all ages in the Charleston, SC area fight criminal charges levied against them. No matter how serious the crime, a strong Charleston juvenile crimes attorney like myself can help protect your child’s future. Charleston area Juvenile crime cases that I have experience include:
- Arson
- Assault
- Disorderly conduct
- Drug charges
- DUI
- Gang activities
- Minor transporting alcohol
- Property destruction
- Sex offenses
- Theft crimes
- Trespassing
- Underage drinking
- Vandalism
If you have any questions or would like to schedule a free initial consultation with a skilled Charleston juvenile crimes lawyer, contact Joe Cadmus today. I can help you and your child.