Juvenile crimes are offenses committed by children and teens under the age of 18. A common misconception concerning these crimes is that once the juvenile becomes an adult, their juvenile record is always expunged and they no longer have a criminal record. This cannot be further from the truth, according to an article in The Palm Beach Post.

Juvenile crimes in Florida can still come back to haunt adults even after they’ve straightened out their lives. A 29-year-old woman, who was first arrested at 12 years-old, found herself being charged as an adult for felony grand larceny and burglary when she was 17-years-old. Now, those records are creating challenges for her as an adult more than 10 years later, despite the fact that she recently graduated from Florida International University law school and has long left that life behind.

Because she was charged as an adult when she was 17-years-old, her crimes will stay on her record. As a result, simple tasks, like trying to rent an apartment, become much more challenging. In fact, the 29-year-old law school graduate was only able to rent an apartment in a bad neighborhood when she first moved to Miami because most desirable locations have condo associations with strict rules concerning criminal records.

According to the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011, there were 5,482 juvenile crimes in Palm Beach County. Of these, 211 juveniles were charged as adults. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) is required to disclose all criminal history records, including juvenile offenses, unless the records were expunged or sealed, which only occurs under certain circumstances.

Being arrested for a juvenile crime in Florida should not be taken lightly. A juvenile criminal record may create obstacles for the rest of your life. At Musca Law, our aggressive Palm Beach County juvenile crime defense attorneys recognize the potential threat of a juvenile criminal record and will provide the effective representation you need to protect your future. If your child has been arrested for a juvenile crime in Florida, contact us today at (800) 687-2252 to learn more about your child’s legal rights and options.

In recent news, a 19-year-old man accused of shooting a Lakeland police officer turned himself in to Lakeland authorities on Monday, December 19, according to MySuncoast.com. He is being charged with attempted first degree murder of a law enforcement officer. This incident raises concerns about the rate of violent crimes being committed by young people. According to a study conducted by the University of North Carolina-Charlotte, more and more young people are committing vicious crimes.

The study shows an increase in the number of people, who are 23 years old and younger, committing violent crimes. A similar study, conducted 44 years ago, concluded that approximately 20 percent of young people are arrested for a criminal offense by the age of 23. The most recent study concludes that over 30 percent of 23 year olds have been arrested.

On the Florida Suncoast, the involvement of young people in violent crime is an area of growing concern. According to the Captain of the Sarasota Police Department, the number of violent crime offenders that are younger than 23 has been on the rise. It is not simply being arrested for a crime that has law enforcement concerned, but the types of crimes these young people are being arrested for. Between 2007 and 2010, more than 300 juveniles were arrested for murder in Florida, although when comparing yearly numbers, the actual amount of juvenile crime arrests has gone down statewide. The number of juvenile crimes in Sarasota County continues to cause concern, however.

If you have been charged with a violent crime in Florida, especially if you are a juvenile, you would be well advised to retain the services of a knowledgeable criminal defense attorney. At Musca Law, our aggressive Sarasota County juvenile crime defense lawyers can protect your legal rights and ensure the best outcome of your case. To learn more, contact us for a confidential consultation at (800) 687-2252.