Juvenile Crime Lawyer in Phoenix

How a Juvenile Crime Lawyer in Phoenix Can Help Your Son or Daughter

Richard Suzuki has extensive experience representing minor individuals in the Arizona juvenile justice system for crimes ranging from shoplifting and curfew violations to drug offenses and violent crimes.

Our criminal defense attorneys treat minors with honesty and respect as we guide them through what can be a frightening process. Our firm practices in the juvenile courts of Maricopa County as well as those in Pima, Pinal, and Yavapai Counties, and the surrounding areas of southern Arizona.

Pursuing Alternatives to Juvenile Detention

Arizona’s juvenile justice system is set up to hold young adults accountable for their actions and get them back on the right track. As a former federal prosecutor, Mr. Suzuki works hard to keep the focus on rehabilitation and to help your child avoid incarceration in a juvenile detention facility. 

He pushes for diversion programs that might include counseling, substance abuse treatment, community service, restitution, and staying in school. If your child is facing felony charges, we can contest adult transfer proceedings to keep them in the juvenile system (depending on the nature of the crime). 

We can also represent your child in juvenile proceedings, such as probation violation or detention hearings. Our juvenile criminal defense attorneys help the court look beyond the mistakes or relapses the youth has made to see the positive steps they have taken toward responsible behavior.

Protect Your Child’s Future from Juvenile Drug Charges

Our firm aggressively defends young people charged with drug crimes in state and federal courts. Our Phoenix criminal defense attorneys have extensive experience in drug cases, ranging from simple possession to high-level narcotics charges.

We defend juveniles charged with all types of drug offenses, including:

• Possession of drug paraphernalia
• Possession of marijuana or narcotics
• Possession of drugs with intent to distribute
• Illegal possession of prescription drugs
• Possession of narcotics for sale

Some juveniles may be eligible for diversion programs such as drug court. Participation in this type of program can help your child get counseling and drug treatment and protect their future opportunities for education and employment.

Phoenix Juvenile Crime Defense Lawyer Near Me (602) 682-5270

Juvenile Sex Crime Charges in Arizona

Arizona takes a rehabilitative approach in many juvenile cases, like drug offenses. However, it takes a hardline stance on juvenile sex crimes.

If a minor is convicted in an adult court, they may be put on the sex offender registry for life. But if the juvenile is charged and convicted in juvenile court, they may be removed from the sex offender registry at the age of 22.

Suzuki Law Offices has experience in all types of sex crime cases, including rape and sexual assault, or internet sex crimes. If your child is being investigated or charged with a sex crime, contact a Phoenix juvenile crime lawyer from our firm immediately.

Our first goal, if possible, will be to keep the case in juvenile court. We will then explore defense options, such as seeking a charge dismissal or reduction, a negotiated plea, or an aggressive trial defense.

Our juvenile defense lawyers can work to use our experience, knowledge, and skills to obtain a favorable outcome against your child’s sex crime charges.

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Juvenile Violent Crime Charges and Adult Court Risks

Juvenile prosecutors take violent crimes extremely seriously. They frequently try to charge juveniles in adult court, exposing them to the possibility of lengthy prison sentences.

Aggravating circumstances, such as the use of a gun or knife during a robbery, can incur enhanced charges and the possibility of confinement in an adult correctional facility.

We vigorously defend minor individuals charged with violent crimes, including:

• Arson
• Gang crimes and gang activity
• Armed robbery
• Aggravated assault
• Murder and manslaughter
• Weapon crimes

Suzuki Law criminal defense attorney Matthew Bartz served as a prosecutor in the Juvenile Crimes Bureau of the Maricopa County Attorney’s office, where he handled dozens of juvenile violent crime cases.

Whenever we can, we attempt to keep such cases out of adult court and in juvenile court, where different rules and procedures apply.

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Other Juvenile Offenses We Handle in Phoenix

We also handle misdemeanors, felonies, and juvenile delinquencies that include the following:

• Theft crimes
• Underage DWI offenses
• Vandalism and property destruction
• Truancy and curfew violations

Regardless of the nature of the charge, you need an experienced juvenile crimes attorney to stand in your child’s defense. We can approach these cases effectively and work to secure the most optimal outcome possible. 

Juvenile Crimes FAQ:

Do Juveniles Have the Same Constitutional Rights as Adults?

Minor individuals have constitutional rights that protect them, although their extent and application may vary compared to adults. The U.S. Constitution guarantees certain fundamental rights to all individuals, regardless of age.

These rights include protections against self-incrimination, the right to legal representation, the right to due process, and protection against unreasonable searches and seizures.

However, the juvenile justice system recognizes that minor individuals are still developing and focuses on rehabilitation and protecting their best interests.

Can a Juvenile be Tried as an Adult in Criminal Court?

In Arizona, it is possible for a juvenile to be tried as an adult in certain circumstances. The decision to transfer a juvenile to adult court depends on various factors, such as the age of the juvenile, the severity of the offense, the juvenile’s prior history, and the prosecutor’s discretion.

Generally, serious or violent offenses are more likely to result in a transfer to the adult criminal justice system, where the juvenile would be subject to the same legal procedures and potential penalties as an adult.

Can a Juvenile Criminal Record be Sealed or Expunged?

There are provisions for sealing and expunging juvenile records in Arizona. Sealing a juvenile record means restricting access to the information, while expunging a record means erasing it completely.

The eligibility criteria and procedures for sealing or expunging juvenile records can vary. Generally, the possibility of sealing or expunging a juvenile record depends on factors such as the type of offense, the case’s outcome, and the individual’s post-offense behavior.

A Phoenix juvenile defense attorney can provide guidance on the options available for sealing or expunging your child’s juvenile criminal record.

Contact Our Phoenix Juvenile Criminal Defense Attorneys Today

Our juvenile criminal defense lawyers understand the juvenile court system, how to prepare cases, how to interact with case officers, and how to work effectively with the court.

Juvenile crimes should not ruin your child’s life. We work to establish that our clients are not railroaded for something they did not do and that they are not punished too severely for juvenile offenses they committed.

Contact Suzuki Law Offices to schedule a free consultation with a juvenile crime lawyer in Phoenix today.