Juvenile Offenses

Making Sure Minors’ Mistakes Stay in the Past

Kids make mistakes. However, in the eyes of the law, children as young as 12 can be arrested, charged, and incarcerated the same as an adult. Accusations of felonies, sex offenses, felony assaults, and vandalism can have lifelong consequences. So, it’s vital to avoid making incriminating statements or other mistakes that can lead to criminal charges.

What Are Juvenile Courts Like?

It’s a common misconception that juvenile courts are more lenient. The fact of the matter is that it’s the prosecutor’s job to prosecute crimes, not to give children the benefit of the doubt. They do not share the understanding of a caring parent. A record of your child’s arrest can remain for years. This can affect their chances of getting a good education and career.

The most serious charges are juvenile sex offenses and felony assaults. A sex offense charge in juvenile court is as serious as an adult charge, but the rules for kids charged with sex offenses are different. The courts are different. The prosecutor is a special prosecutor, one whose job is only to charge kids with sex offenses.

In King County Juvenile Court, the highest volume of juvenile criminal charges and juvenile sex offenses are prosecuted; their sex offense prosecutor has been in this position for years. We, too, have been working against this prosecutor for years and have had success in both trial and negotiations. The experts needed to defend against these sex offense charges are specialized.

With the stakes so high on a young person’s future, it’s vital to get a sex offense lawyer who is also a juvenile law defense attorney to protect your child’s legal rights.

We Have Been Sex Offense and Assault Defense Lawyers For Kids Since 1995

While the system can be tough, there are options available other than jail that are more lenient. Many first-time offenses can carry a “local sanction,” such as community supervision (probation), community service, or a fine. Even a more serious sex offense charge can be handled by probation. To gain these more lenient sentences, you need a defense attorney in Seattle with extensive experience of how the juvenile court system works.

With dual careers spanning nearly two decades, Burke Brown Attorneys, PLLC has helped countless parents and their children gain the best result—not just a satisfactory one. We have helped youths from all types of communities, including Mercer Island, Bellevue, Issaquah, Seattle, Bothell, Kenmore, Everett, Auburn, Kent, and Bainbridge.

We have protected thousands of good kids with promising futures who are falsely accused or who have made a mistake. We work hard to make the system care about our juvenile clients and their futures.

We understand that seeing your child charged with a crime can be a very worrying time. We strive to keep parents informed and part of the team that is protecting a child’s future. Contact us to discuss your child’s case and how we can provide immediate help.