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Juvenile Law
William A. Stavros is a Baltimore County juvenile attorney with many years of experience representing clients charged with committing delinquent acts, which would be considered both misdemeanors and serious felonies, if committed by an adult. Juvenile cases, although not considered criminal, can still have serious consequences to the Respondent; consequences can include, but are not limited to:
- Commitment of the Juvenile (This involves transferring legal custody of the Juvenile).
- Detention of the Juvenile (This involves holding the Juvenile in a secure facility pending court disposition).
- Court Supervision of the Juvenile (Court Supervision can continue until twenty one years of age).
- A Juvenile Record (Although this record is sealed from public view it can have negative ramifications into adulthood).
It is important that you take your child’s case seriously and obtain an attorney experienced at handling Juvenile cases. Every case is unique and must be treated as such to achieve the best possible outcome. William A. Stavros is committed to paying careful attention to the individual circumstances surrounding each person and each case. Initial consultations are free and our fees are reasonable.
For a free consultation about a juvenile case, contact William A. Stavros at his Towson office at (410) 825-3300 so that we can start discussing possible options and defenses. If you live on Maryland’s Eastern Shore call today at (410) 739-0794.
General Information Regarding the Juvenile Process in Maryland State Court
Juvenile procedure is different from adult criminal procedure in many respects including the terminology. The accused juveniles are referred to as Respondents rather than Defendants. Crimes are referred to as delinquent acts. Trials are called adjudicatory hearings. The Juvenile process in Maryland is complex and adults who guide and care for those who stand accused should hire an experienced juvenile lawyer as soon as possible. In certain cases it may be possible to resolve matters early on in the process, less formally, through certain programs outside of the Juvenile Court. The advice of a juvenile attorney can be helpful in setting the stage for this possibility.
Individuals in Maryland under the age of eighteen (18) who are accused of violating the criminal and jailable traffic laws of Maryland are, generally speaking, subject to the juvenile process. There are, however, many enumerated exceptions to this general rule where those under eighteen (18) can be charged as an adult. These exceptions most often, but not always, involve a combination of both a more serious violation of the Maryland Criminal Law Article and a more advanced age of the accused. The State’s Attorney may still however, under certain specified circumstances, petition the court to have a Juvenile case moved to adult Court for trial. Similarly speaking a defense attorney may move to have certain matters charged in adult court reset in the juvenile court. In either case the opposing party may argue against any change in jurisdiction. A lawyer experienced at handling juvenile matters can explain whether any of these situations may come in to play.
If you wish make an appointment to explore defenses and options please contact Mr. Stavros for a free consultation at (410) 825-3300 or (410) 739-0794. William A. Stavros serves the Baltimore Metropolitan area and surrounding counties, including the Maryland D.C. suburbs from his office in Towson, Maryland. He serves the entire Eastern Shore, including Ocean City, through his office in Centreville, Maryland.