Juvenile Drug Charges
When you are caught with drugs as an adult, you will face some fines and possibly jail time. But what happens if you are a juvenile or know a juvenile who is caught with drugs? Are the charges and the fines different than that for adults? The answer is yes and no. There is a lot a judge considers when looking at a juvenile who has been caught with drugs and it includes their history, the amount of drugs they had and what they intended to do with those drugs.
Do Juvenile Drug Charges Differ From Adults?
- In Tampa, Florida and other cities around the state the ultimate goal is to discover why and how the juvenile is getting drugs in the first place. The first priority is to get them away from the drugs. That might include time in a rehab center if the family life warrants rehab. It might also include removing the child from their current home if the situation does not seem conducive to the child getting better. Often times the source for the drugs is a parent or relative in the home, so unless the child is removed from that situation it might not get better.
- For juveniles that have previous drug offenses in Tampa, then they have a few more obstacles to overcome. They may be removed from their home and attend a center for juvenile delinquents that focuses on schoolwork, rehab if they need it and around the clock monitoring of their behavior. A Judge can decide how little or how long they need to stay in this facility in order to be rehabbed. They may be allowed to go back to their home or they may then be placed in foster care if the home is not a safe environment.
Juvenile Drug Charges before turning 18
- Once a juvenile hits 18, they are then tried as an adult in Florida. The drug charges up to that point are not considered criminal charges. They will not appear as criminal charges on their record unless they happen after they are 18 years old. There are still fees and court costs with charges as a juvenile, however, the charges are not processed on the criminal side of the law.
The court system in Tampa tries to get the child in to the best environment as possible in order to get them away from drugs and off of the habit of taking or selling drugs. There are counseling programs offered, there are rehab facilities that offer in and out patient services, there are special schools to attend that are safer than the normal school or there are even programs to get them educated on the dangers of drugs and alcohol. The programs can be very successful, however, the child has to want to do better and succeed in a life away from drugs.
As with any case where you or a loved one face juvenile drug charges, it is best to hire a professional who can deal with the courts. They will know the legal process and have the availability to handle any situation when it comes up.
