If your child is facing juvenile criminal charges in Bristol, PA, he could be looking at fines, probation, and even jail time, not to mention a criminal record that may hold him back from a successful future. A juvenile defense lawyer in Bristol from McKenzie Law Firm, P.C. can fight for your child’s rights and help him move past this issue.
At McKenzie Law Firm, P.C., we fight for the rights of the accused. Our founding attorney, David McKenzie, is a former prosecutor who spent years on the other side of cases similar to your child’s. He understands how the other side works and uses this knowledge to his clients’ benefit. We fight hard for your child’s rights.
To schedule a free case evaluation with a member of the McKenzie Law Firm, P.C. team, call 610-680-7842 today.
McKenzie Law Firm, P.C. Can Defend Your Minor Child From Criminal Charges in Bristol, PA
The same laws that apply to adults apply to juveniles, as well. Minors also must adhere to an additional set of rules aimed exclusively at them, such as truancy and drinking age laws.
No matter what type of charge your child faces, we can help him move past it with his future intact. Call us if your child has been accused of any of the following:
- Assault
- Attempted murder
- Auto theft
- Battery
- DUI
- Drug possession or sale
- Homicide
- Possession of fake ID
- Robbery
- Shoplifting
- Theft
- Truancy
- Underage consumption of alcohol
For a free legal consultation with a lawyer serving Bristol, call (610) 680-7842
We Fight to Keep Your Child’s Case Out of Adult Court
Pennsylvania has separate criminal courts for juveniles and adults. But, in certain situations and for certain crimes, your child’s case could get remanded to adult court, where the potential consequences of a conviction are much more severe.
A conviction in adult court also has much more lasting consequences. With a juvenile conviction, your child can have his record sealed or even expunged at age 18 if he satisfies certain requirements. But an adult court conviction can follow for years in the future.
David McKenzie and his team at McKenzie Law Firm, P.C. have extensive resources we call upon to keep your child’s case out of adult court. To find out more about how we can help, call us for a free case evaluation at 610-680-7842.
Bristol Juvenile Criminal Defense Lawyer Near Me (610) 680-7842
We Fight Against a Criminal Conviction by Creating Reasonable Doubt
A criminal conviction requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt your child is guilty. The burden falls upon the prosecution to establish this level of proof. To get an acquittal in a jury trial, we do not have to demonstrate that your child is innocent; we only must create enough doubt to prevent the prosecution from meeting its burden of proof.
This is where attorney David McKenzie’s prosecutorial experience is invaluable to his clients. Having worked on the other side, he knows what it takes to establish a burden of proof and, more importantly, the best defense tactics to prevent this from happening.
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We Fight for Alternative Justice to Keep Your Child Out of Jail
If the prosecution’s evidence is overwhelming, making it impossible to create reasonable doubt, we can pivot our focus to keeping your child out of jail. In cases of obvious guilt, our ideal outcome is twofold:
- Keep our client out of jail
- Make sure his record is sealed or expunged upon reaching the age of majority
To avoid a jail sentence, a juvenile defense lawyer in Bristol can push for alternative justice. Depending on the nature of the crime, this could include drug or alcohol rehab, community service, restitution, or even something as simple as an apology letter.
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How We Fight to Keep Your Child’s Case Out of Adult Court
Adult and juvenile criminal courts are separate for a reason. As a society, we have decided that the mistakes made as a juvenile should not follow someone forever, preventing him from getting jobs, voting, owning a gun, or enjoying the myriad other rights of our free society.
But, when a minor commits certain serious offenses, Pennsylvania believes he should face adult consequences. The prosecution may ask for either a discretionary waiver or presumptive waiver to have your child’s case remanded to adult court.
If this happens, we fight aggressively to keep your child’s case in juvenile court. Here are the situations in which the prosecution may ask for a discretionary or presumptive waiver:
Discretionary Waiver
The prosecution can ask for a discretionary waiver in any felony case involving a minor aged 14 years or older. It’s called “discretionary” because the court has the ultimate discretion over whether the case is moved.
Presumptive Waiver
For certain serious charges, the court presumes the case will be remanded to adult court. The prosecution will thus ask for a presumptive waiver to have it moved.
Here are the situations in which the prosecution may be granted a presumptive waiver:
- A child of 14 years or older faces charges of a felony involving a deadly weapon
- A child of 15 years or older faces charges of murder, solicitation of murder, or manslaughter
- A child of 15 years or older faces charges of rape, aggravated assault, kidnapping, robbery, or conspiracy to commit any of these crimes
Whether the prosecution has asked for a discretionary or presumptive waiver in your child’s case, we will fight it aggressively. To discuss your child’s situation with us at a free case evaluation, call us at 610-680-7842.
Call a Juvenile Defense Lawyer in Bristol at 610-680-7842 for a Free Case Evaluation
Attorney David McKenzie and his team at McKenzie Law Firm, P.C. are eager to start fighting for your child’s rights today. We believe in the presumption of innocence—especially for minor children—and we will pour every resource available into helping your child move past these charges.
To schedule a free case evaluation, call 610-680-7842 today.
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