Young people make poor choices. Sometimes that poor choice is a friend or a significant other. Other times it is less innocuous. When a young person commits a crime, they are sometimes treated as adults in the criminal justice system. If your child has committed a crime, you may be terrified for their future. You do not want their whole life to be ruined because of a mistake they have made. The court system in New York State does give teens a chance to go on with their life after receiving punishment for their crimes without them having a criminal record or becoming a felon. They have the status of youthful offenders. Please keep reading to learn more then call our office to set up a consultation.
Who Gets Considered Youthful Offenders?
To first understand the penalties that a youthful offender might face, it is important to figure out if your child fits the requirements to be considered a youthful offender. According to NY Courts, the age of the accused child must be between 14-19 years old. At sentencing, the judge will be able to give your child the status of a youthful offender. Otherwise, they would be able to be charged as an adult.
Your child must also be clear of any prior convictions for a felony. They cannot have gone through the system as a youthful offender before either so else they will be treated as an adult. The reason why they cannot have had a felony or have already been treated as a youthful offender is that this is a program meant to give children another second, not a third or fourth chance to reenter society without a record.
If they fit the requirements, then you should immediately reach out to our Long Island criminal lawyer to set up a consultation.
What Will Happen to My Child?
We understand the horror of wondering what is going to happen to your child if they have been charged with a crime, especially if this is a felony crime. If your child receives the benefits that youthful offenders get, they will not end up with a criminal record for whatever crime they have been charged with. When everything is said and done, this whole incident gets sealed and they will never have to tell a college, employer, or anyone that they have been convicted of a crime, even if it was a felony. They could go on to have a job in a public office if they wanted to. There is a maximum jail time for youthful offenders. Your child will not spend longer than four years in jail.
Call Our Long Island Criminal Defense Lawyer Today
If you are concerned about the future of your child and you do not want their future marred by a mistake that they have made, please give our office a call right away. We can get you set up with a consultation where you can sit down with a skilled and trained lawyer to talk about the charges against your child and how we can help. Don’t wait to call, reach out to us today.
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