Juvenile Defense Attorney--Lake County Illinois

 Posted on January 21, 2021 in Juvenile crime

Juvenile Defense Attorney Serving Waukegan and the Northern Suburbs of Chicago

Illinois was the first state to establish a separate court for children, enacting a court system for juveniles that would soon be emulated by the rest of the nation. While most Illinois juveniles are able to avoid getting into trouble with the law, young people do make mistakes as a part of the growing-up process. One moment of poor judgment, or one bad decision should not be allowed to alter the entire course of your child's future. Despite opinions to the contrary, the vast majority of juvenile offenders are neither violent nor repeat offenders, and most deserve a second chance. If your child has been charged with a criminal offense, you are likely extremely worried about how this arrest will affect his or her future.

The sooner you speak to an experienced Illinois juvenile offense attorney, the greater likelihood of a positive outcome. The The Law Offices of Matthew R. Gebhardt, P.C. have helped many parents and children who were frightened and anxious about the criminal charges filed against the minor. Our Northbrook juvenile defense attorney understands that while the Illinois juvenile justice system is different from the adult system, in some cases it is not more lenient. Turn some of your worry over to Matthew R. Gebhardt—his many years' of experience and knowledge of Florida juvenile laws will benefit your child's future.

Lake County Juvenile Crimes Your Child Could be Charged With

The most common juvenile crime is theft, or shoplifting. Other common juvenile crimes include:

• Violations of Illinois liquor laws;
• Sexting;
• Theft;
• Criminal trespass;
• School fights;
• Truancy from school;
• Simple assault;
• Underage drinking/DUI;
• Drug possession; and
• Possession of a fake ID.

Perhaps the one crime that most juveniles and parents lack information about is “sexting.” A young person can be arrested and charged with a felony—even child pornography—for taking a photo or video of themselves in a sexually explicit situation, then sharing it with their boyfriend/girlfriend or others via a phone or computer. In rarer cases, your child could be charged with a more adult crime such as solicitation, rape, attempted murder, weapons offenses, burglary or sexual assault. Attorney Gebhardt understands just how stressful these charges are, and will do his best to alleviate your fears regarding the outcome of your child's charges.

Negative Consequences Associated With Juvenile Offenses

There are a number of adverse, far-reaching implications associated with adjudication for a juvenile offense, including the following:

• In some cases future employers may be able to access Illinois juvenile records.
• If your child's juvenile arrest record is not expunged or sealed, the information may end up as public knowledge.
• If your child decides at a later date to join the military, his or her juvenile record may prohibit that decision.

Juvenile Offense Lawyer Aggressively Protecting Your Child's Future

Facing criminal charges is frightening, even for the most hardened adult. Imagine how much more intimidating an arrest is for a juvenile. What you, as a parent, do immediately following your child's arrest can make the difference between a future which is forever altered and the opportunity to learn from a bad decision. It is extremely important that you not allow your child to be pressured into pleading guilty to a juvenile offense. Attorney Gebhardt will work aggressively to preserve your child's record, with a goal of allowing them to walk away from the charges with minimal long-term effects. Attorney Matthew R. Gebhardt will stand by your child's side, advocating strongly for his or her rights.