When Can a Juvenile Be Charged as an Adult in Muskegon?

While most juvenile cases result in special juvenile court proceedings, rather than adult criminal court proceedings, in serious cases it is possible that a juvenile will be tried as an adult. In the state of Michigan, juvenile offenders over the age of 14 may be automatically waived into adult court for serious felony offenses, though juveniles as young as 11 have faced adult criminal justice proceedings in rare cases. No matter what the specific details of your case, the most important thing you can do is to begin to work with an experienced Muskegon juvenile defense attorney as soon as possible. Grabel & Associates is available 24/7 to start fighting for you, and we truly care about your case result, and are committed to doing everything we can to protect your best interests and guard your future.

After you or your child faces a juvenile crime accusation, there are a number of things you can do to fight back against adult criminal conviction. Your attorney can work with you to seek placement in juvenile court, and could help you obtain a deferred sentence or other favorable outcome, especially if you are a first time offender. If your case is automatically put into adult court, there is a lot you can do to structure your case to achieve a more beneficial outcome, and our attorneys are prepared to work with you throughout investigation, bargaining, and trial so that you know what to say and do to protect yourself and battle back against conviction.

The specific laws and penalties you might face depend greatly on the severity of your unique case and your criminal history. Work with an attorney and find out if you may be charged as an adult in Muskegon as soon as you can.

Adult Sentencing for Muskegon Juvenile Offenders

In the state of Michigan, juveniles as young as 14 can be eligible for a waiver to adult courts. For more serious offenses, like first-degree murder, adult sentencing has been considered for offenders even younger than 14.

A number of factors can affect whether or not a juvenile waiver is pursued. These can include:

• The juvenile’s age.
• The alleged offender’s criminal history.
• Past rehabilitation attempts that have not been successful.
• The severity of the offense and specific case details.

A prosecutor is usually the one to request a transfer to adult court, though in some cases a judge initiates the request. All minors are entitled to a hearing, during which it will be determined if a transfer to adult court is necessary. During this hearing, a prosecutor will need to demonstrate probable cause to believe the juvenile offender did indeed commit the offense.

A judge will consider whether the juvenile would like to be rehabilitated, and what his or her chances are to be successfully rehabilitated. If the offender has a clean background, little to no criminal history, and a willingness to seek juvenile rehabilitation treatment, the waiver request could be denied. Having an experienced defense lawyer on your side during this stage could be critical.

Automatic Transfer to Adult Court in Michigan

In cases of very serious offenses, such as 1st degree murder or serious sexual assault, juvenile offenders over the age of 14 may be automatically waived into adult court. To find out if your case may be automatically transferred to adult court, contact Grabel & Associates now for a free initial case consultation. We have extensive experience working with clients accused of drug crimes, violent crimes, theft, sex crimes, and more, and our Muskegon defense team is available 24/7 to start working with you.

You can also read the information contained in the Michigan Probate Code regarding waiver of jurisdiction for children over the age of 14 in Muskegon.

Our Approach to Muskegon Juvenile Defense

Under the direction of nationally ranked trial lawyer Scott Grabel, our team works to deliver premier defense in even the most difficult cases, including juvenile crime cases that are transferred to adult court. Our attorneys are committed to doing whatever we can to protect you from adult court sentencing and life-altering penalties, and are available now to begin providing top-level defense throughout every stage of your case.

Contact Grabel & Associates for 24/7 Juvenile Crime Defense in Muskegon

Contact Scott Grabel online or another talented member of our legal team for a free initial case consultation, and learn more about how your case may be treated by Michigan laws and courts. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and can immediately start guiding you through what you need to do to fight back against felony conviction.