Juvenile Drug Crimes Attorney in Lansing

In Lansing, juvenile drug offenses are taken just as seriously as drug charges laid against adults. Juvenile courts are supposed to focus on rehabilitating any juveniles who do come through the court system, but in some cases, the courts actually end up punishing the juvenile, even those completely innocent of a crime.

Grabel & Associates of Lansing, Michigan, knows how troubling a drug charge can be for a juvenile and his or her family. That's why our attorneys take juvenile crime so seriously. They want to ensure that those going through the juvenile court system obtain a fair trial and have their rights fully protected. Hiring a juvenile defense attorney from Grabel & Associates to defend a minor means that every legal issue will be thoroughly explored and a defense strategy will be planned out to the letter.

Call our qualified defense law firm today and start working against your juvenile drug charge defense.

Drug Laws and Juveniles

Juveniles are any individuals under the age of 17. Michigan wants to see that its children and teenagers do not become career criminals if a conviction occurs. To that end, juvenile courts in Lansing, which are part of family court, are designed to help rehabilitate minors, rather than punish them as if they were adults.

Possession charges involve drugs being found on a juvenile or among his or her belongings, such as in a school locker. If a police officer pulls over a juvenile driver and sees drugs or drug paraphernalia in the passenger seat, then the police will have probable cause to search the rest of the vehicle. If any other substances are found, the juvenile can be charged with possession. A juvenile can also be charged with possession if he or she uses a few pills from another person's prescription drug.

To receive a drug possession conviction in Lansing, there must be evidence that the juvenile knew the drugs were present. The prosecution must also prove that the juvenile had control over the alleged substances, meaning that the drugs were in the juvenile's controlled space - a car, school locker, bedroom, or any other controlled room. Grabel & Associates can help you understand what evidence may be used against a juvenile and stop the prosecution from misconstruing facts.

Drug selling and trafficking in Lansing are also serious drug offenses that can heavily impact a juvenile's future if convicted. Juveniles are at a greater risk for receiving harsher sentences because they are commonly on school property. In an effort to keep drug dealers off school grounds, such as East Lansing High School, Everett High School, and Waverly High School, the state of Michigan has several laws that punish the possession, selling, or trafficking on school grounds harsher than possessing, selling, or trafficking anywhere else. If a juvenile is charged while on school grounds, the punishments could be more severe.

Potential Penalties for Juvenile Drug Offenses

As previously mentioned, juvenile courts in Lansing are mainly designed to rehabilitate juvenile offenders, rather than punish them. If a juvenile is convicted of a drug offense, one or more of these options may be available.

Drug counseling is a popular option in many juvenile courts. These counseling sessions can help juveniles and parents learn the root cause of an addiction and try to overcome it. Courts can compel both juveniles and their parents to attend these sessions in the hopes of getting both sides to better understand each other.

Probation in Lansing can involve a number of activities and conditions that a juvenile must follow. He or she may be ordered to go school to regularly (if this has been an issue), hold down a part-time job, participate in community service, attend drug or family counseling sessions, or complete other conditions. Once these conditions are met, the juvenile's record will more than likely be expunged, meaning that the crime will be removed from the juvenile's record.

In some instances with drug offenses in Lansing, the juvenile may undergo a diversion, which is common among those accused of possession. Similar to probation, diversion compels a juvenile to meet certain conditions set down by the court, but these conditions are often set before any type of trial even begins, which saves the juvenile the trouble of going through a trial. Once the conditions are met, the charges will be dismissed.

If the court views a drug offense as a more serious case, then it can send a juvenile to detention for drug possession. This can involve confinement to the primary home, placement in a juvenile home or detention center, or placement in a foster home or the home of a separate guardian. This punishment is often used for juveniles who have had more than one drug offense or were involved in a violent crime, such as a robbery, at the time of the drug charge.

Ingham County Family Court is conveniently located right in Lansing. There are two locations:

Grady Porter Building
303 W. Kalamazoo Street, 2nd Fl.
Lansing, MI 48933

Veterans Memorial Courthouse
313 W. Kalamazoo Street
Lansing, MI 48933

Hours: Monday - Friday
8:00 - 12:00 p.m. (closed for lunch) 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Phone Number:
(517) 483-6105

Fax:
(517) 483-6158

Any one of these charges can have a long and detrimental impact on a young life. At Grabel & Associates, we know how distressing it can be for a juvenile to face these charges. That's why we're committed to defending their rights and keeping them out of adult court. If you are a juvenile who's been charged with a drug offense, don't wait to call Grabel & Associates.

Contact Grabel & Associates

Facing a drug charge is certainly not easy for an adult, but it can be even more so challenging for a juvenile in Lansing. They have their whole lives ahead of them, and now everything seems to hang in a balance. Having a criminal record could stop a juvenile from getting into a great college or from finding a good job, so if you're a juvenile or a parent of one accused of a drug crime, do not hesitate to call Grabel & Associates.

At Grabel & Associates, we have a keen understanding of the law and its application. We've worked hundreds of cases in juvenile court and will work to ensure that the juvenile's rights are wholly protected. For a free consultation, call our toll-free number is 1-800-342-7896, and you can also contact us through our website. Start crafting a great defense and called Grabel & Associates now.