Juvenile Criminal Defense Attorney in Dayton, OH

Dayton Juvenile Defense Lawyer

Juveniles, including children and teens, can be arrested, charged, and prosecuted for the same crimes as adults. They may face life-changing consequences, including incarceration.

A skilled and knowledgeable juvenile criminal defense attorney from Gounaris Abboud helps you and your child identify defenses for their charges. We also work with prosecutors to find a fair solution, including a dismissal of the charges or a plea deal, that protects your child’s rights and future.

If we cannot reach a mutually agreeable solution, we will fight your child’s case in juvenile court.

Juvenile Crimes We Handle

Gounaris Abboud has over five decades of experience handling all types of criminal charges in Ohio. Some examples of serious offenses a juvenile crimes lawyer from our firm can handle include:

• Homicide, including murder and manslaughter
• Sex crimes
• Robbery, assault, and other violent crimes
• Burglary
• Arson
• Drug crimes

You should also consider searching for a “juvenile attorney near me” to represent your child for less serious offenses, such as:

• Theft, including shoplifting
• Operating a vehicle under the influence (OVI)
• Underage drinking
• Vandalism

Regardless of the charges, we always fight for a positive outcome for our clients. We have a 95% success rate and will advocate for your child’s interests.

Dayton Juvenile Crime Penalties

Sentences in juvenile court are aimed at rehabilitation rather than punishment. However, they can still impose significant restrictions on your child. These restrictions may interfere with their development and limit their future.

Thus, the goal of a juvenile criminal defense attorney is to fight for an outcome that serves your child’s interests, including counseling, drug or alcohol treatment, and other rehabilitative services.

Custodial punishments that a juvenile court judge may impose include:

• Supervised or unsupervised probation
• Placement into temporary custody in a group home or community program
• House arrest
• Incarceration

Judges can also order non-custodial penalties, such as:

• Judicial reprimand
• Community service
• Driver’s license suspension
• Drug and alcohol testing
• Mandatory school attendance
• Curfew
• Fines, court costs, and restitution
• Drug or alcohol treatment

Upon conviction of a felony, the judge can sentence your child to incarceration in a community correctional facility or the Ohio Department of Youth Services. They may be held there until they turn 21. At that point, they may be released.

Juvenile court judges have more discretion when sentencing juveniles. They can tailor a penalty to fit the crime as well as the child’s upbringing, home life, and experiences. They can consider the child’s physical maturity and mental development.

The court can also consider the reasons that caused the child to commit a crime. We can present evidence of past mental or physical trauma, mental illness, medical conditions, and substance abuse that may have contributed to your juvenile’s behavior.

Judges faced with this kind of evidence can craft “penalties” that include mental health treatment and substance abuse counseling to help them avoid future criminal behavior.

Ohio Juvenile Charges: What Is the Juvenile Crimes Definition?

Section 2152.02 of the Ohio Revised Code defines a “child” subject to the jurisdiction of the juvenile court as follows:

• Anyone under 18 who commits an offense, regardless of their age when charged.
• Anyone under 21 who has been adjudicated a delinquent child or juvenile.
• Anyone convicted of a felony in adult court and sentenced as a serious youthful offender.

The law also excludes certain people from the definition of “child”, including those whose cases are transferred to adult court for trial and sentencing.

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Ohio Juvenile Court System

Unlike some states, Ohio’s juvenile court system does not fall under the family courts. Instead, it exists as a separate division, straddling the line between the domestic division and criminal courts. It handles cases involving juvenile delinquency as well as family matters involving children, such as paternity and custody.

Judges handling delinquency cases balance children’s rights and interests with rehabilitation and punishment.

For serious crimes, however, prosecutors can charge the child as an adult. This procedure deprives the juvenile court of jurisdiction and shifts the case to the court of common pleas with other adult offenses.