Atlanta, Georgia Juvenile Crime Attorneys

Defense for Minors in Georgia Juvenile Courts

If you are a minor who has been arrested for a felony or misdemeanor in Georgia, you should contact Conaway & Strickler, P.C. immediately. For over a decade the Atlanta criminal defense attorneys at our nationally recognized law firm have been successfully defending clients throughout Georgia charged with serious crimes, as well as representing clients nationally who have faced Federal charges. If you have been charged with a juvenile crime, contact a skilled Georgia juvenile crime attorney at Conaway & Strickler, P.C. for a free consultation.

Juvenile Offenses in Georgia

According to the Judicial Branch of Georgia, "original jurisdiction of juvenile courts extends to delinquent children under the age of 17 and deprived or unruly children under the age of 18." Although there are many crimes which are illegal no matter what age the offender is, there are certain law violations which only apply to minors, such as truancy violations and breaking curfew. Listed below are some important Georgia laws which apply to juveniles:

If you are over 16 years old and you have sex with a person who is under the age of 16, you can be charged with statutory rape.
It is illegal to be a runaway and live on the streets, and if charged, you may be forced to live in a detention center for juveniles and charged with truancy.
If you are found in a place in which you do not belong, you may be considered loitering and may be charged with a misdemeanor.
If you are a minor and out after 12 am on the weekend or 11pm on a weeknight you are in violation of curfew law and may be penalized.

Georgia's underage drinking laws were changed in 2001. Now, when people under the legal drinking age of 21 are found guilty, their licenses will be suspended rather than revoked. A minor does not need to be driving under the influence to have their license suspended. Some alcohol-related violations which may result in serious consequences include:

Purchasing alcohol
Attempting to purchase alcohol
Using a fake ID to purchase alcohol
Minor in possession of alcohol

Why a Georgia Juvenile Crime Attorney

If you are a minor who is facing criminal charges you should hire a skilled Georgia juvenile crime attorney from Conaway & Strickler, P.C. Our lawyers have years of experience successfully defending children and young people who have been accused of serious felony and misdemeanor crimes throughout the State of Georgia. We know that being accused of a crime can be very scary and confusing, and we will use our knowledge of criminal and juvenile laws to aggressively defend you.

If you are approached by the police for involvement in a suspected crime, you should stay calm and level-headed. Please know that as a juvenile you do have rights. If you are arrested or detained:

Do not resist arrest by a police officer.
You may respectfully decline to give information or answer questions about the event.
Ask that your attorney be present when you are asked questions.
Do not discuss the incident or case with anyone other than your Atlanta Georgia juvenile crime defense attorney.

Contact a lawyer at Conaway & Strickler, P.C. today if you or someone you know has been arrested for a juvenile crime in Atlanta, Georgia.