Juvenile crimes in Rochester require experienced legal defense

Many adult Rochester residents have memories of things they did when they were juveniles and think themselves lucky for not getting caught during the potential mistakes they made as any issue with the law can negatively impact a person’s future. There is no doubt that an act as a juvenile could be classified as a youthful mistake. Some of these acts, however, can lead to a violation of criminal law and the person will be charged with juvenile crimes. These allegations can fall into a variety of categories, but two of the most common charges juveniles will face are alcohol or drug-related. Having legal defense from a law firm that has helped many who were charged with juvenile violations is key.

For people under 21, it is illegal to drink alcohol. Underage drinking is relatively common. That does not make it legal and people will be arrested for it. Driving while under the influence and underage is worse. When a person 21 and older has a blood-alcohol content of .08 or higher, they are considered under the influence. It is different for those under 21. For them, it is .02. When driving after consuming alcohol, a juvenile can face a variety of penalties if there is a conviction. When the BAC is .05 to .07, the driver’s license can be suspended for a minimum of one year. If there is a repeat conviction, it can be longer.

When juveniles have drugs, this can also lead to various penalties. In general, these are not as significant as they are for those 21 and older, but a drug conviction can have problematic connotations in a person’s life and this goes beyond the penalties that are meted out. There can be difficulty getting into college and getting certain jobs. It can hinder the juvenile’s entire future unless the case is handled properly by a qualified attorney.

Regardless of the charges and whether they are alcohol-related, drug-related or there are other issues like assault, theft and more, having a law firm that understands the fundamentals of juvenile criminal defense is imperative. Perhaps the charges can be reduced. Treatment for an alcohol or drug problem might be a viable alternative. It is also wise to think about the value of record sealing to avoid the incident repeatedly coming back to haunt the person. Calling for legal advice is essential and that is the first step to take after a juvenile crime has been alleged and there has been an arrest.