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Law Firm of Scott T. Moorey
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BBB Accredited business Click for ReviewFollowing an investigation in Orlando, Florida police arrested three teenagers -- two of whom had apparently escaped from a Fort Myers halfway house. Reportedly, two youths, ages 15 and 18, escaped and traveled to Orlando in a stolen vehicle where they met up with the twin brother of the 18-year-old. The three teens then allegedly engaged in several juvenile crimes in Orlando.
Following an investigation that continued for longer than a month, Cape Coral police arrested the third of three Florida teenagers who allegedly broke into vehicles and then went for joyrides. Among other charges, they are now facing charges of juvenile theft. The alleged theft of a pickup truck in December gave rise to the launch of the investigation.
When teenagers are arrested for crimes committed in Florida, they will likely consider their defense options to limit the damage convictions can do to their futures. In Florida, crimes committed by teens under the age of 19 are regarded as juvenile crimes. However, legal counsel is crucial, especially if the crimes include homicide.
Following the incident at a Florida high school in March when 17 people were wounded, and 17 others were killed, the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Public Safety Act became law. Under this legislation, incidents in which people threaten schools with violence are regarded as second-degree felonies. When students make such threats, they could be charged with juvenile crimes.
Officers of the Broward County Sheriff's Office reported the arrest of a 17-year old teenager in Deerfield Beach in August. The Florida girl is accused of committing several juvenile crimes with the help of her 21-year-old boyfriend and the father of her 3-month-old baby, along with another 19-year-old man. While officers say they know of at least two victims of their alleged dating scam, they are looking for more victims.
Regardless of background or upbringing, teenagers in Florida could become involved in unsavory activities. Peer pressure could be powerful, and many young ones have faced charges of juvenile crimes because they were conned into the belief that stealing something like a Snickers bar is petty theft, which is as insignificant as it sounds. However, the consequences can be all but petty. Any type of theft is a crime that society considers as immoral or unacceptably dishonest, and as such, it can count against a suspect of petty theft in many ways -- including having to reveal this record in job applications in the future.
Facing criminal charges is harrowing, and the consequences of a conviction can be devastating. When the charges are for juvenile crimes, the impact could be even more severe. Fortunately, the Florida juvenile justice system is not punishment-oriented like the adult criminal justice system, but geared more toward rehabilitation.
With rising temperatures and the rapid approach of summer in Florida, juvenile mischief will likely be rampant. Sadly, in many cases, the mischief turns into more serious matters, and young people are arrested and accused of committing juvenile crimes. Many such arrests follow status offenses, which constitute acts that are only illegal if committed by minors.
Raising a child is undoubtedly one of the most challenging jobs there is. Parents typically correct their children's behavior constantly, hoping to have them grow up to be responsible and well-behaved teens and later adults. However, a certain level of mischief must be allowed, and the challenge is to prevent mischief from turning into crime. No parent in Florida would want to have to deal with accusations of juvenile crimes against his or her child.
Nobody wants a criminal record, even if it is just a disorderly conduct charge. Florida teenagers can get up to mischief, and before they know it, they might be accused of something like public annoyance. While it might seem insignificant at the time, any charges for juvenile crimes can have severe consequences that might include fines, detention and more.