The Florida juvenile justice system aims to rehabilitate teens younger than 18 years. The courts work with various other authorities to establish rehabilitation plans instead of punishing perpetrators of juvenile crimes. However, exceptions exist, and prosecutors are allowed to charge minors in adult court under circumstances that involve specific felonies.
It is still unsure whether a 17-year-old Florida teen will be charged as an adult when he faces second-degree murder charges for allegedly beating his grandfather to death. According to authorities, the teenager and his 69-year-old grandfather disagreed about a TV program. The argument became violent, and the juvenile admitted to using his fists along with a variety of objects to beat his grandfather.
Family members of the accused youth say they will support him throughout the ensuing criminal proceedings despite being crushed and shocked about what happened. His uncle claims the teenager has mental issues. The State Attorney’s Office will have 21 days to review the details of the case before deciding whether to deal with the case in adult or juvenile court.
Juveniles have similar legal rights to those of adults, and it would be sensible to retain the services of a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. Legal counsel with experience in dealing with both adult and juvenile crimes can examine the charges and the evidence to establish a strong defense. The accused juvenile’s mental health might play a role in the attorney’s defense strategy. The lawyer’s primary goal will be to achieve the most favorable outcome for the young client.
