People under 18 are prone to making mistakes. If they have been accused of a crime in Florida, their status as juveniles often protects them from the worst possible penalties that an adult would be vulnerable to for the same crimes. Still, if the charges are related to theft or robbery, they could be confronted with incarceration and have the negative implications of a criminal record.
For some, it might be worthwhile to consider an alternative sentence that is available to people under 18. That would involve a driver license suspension. Knowing when this is a potential resolution is vital beforehand. As always with criminal charges, having professional guidance is important.
When can a driver license suspension be used as an alternative sentence?
A theft occurs when a person takes or tries to take property that does not belong to them. It can be property or money. The value or the amount that was taken will determine the severity of the charges. It also includes activities which juveniles are more likely to partake in such as shoplifting, removing anti-theft devices, and transit fare evasion.
If a juvenile is facing the prospect of probation or commitment to the Department of Juvenile Justice and they have never been convicted or found to be delinquent for another juvenile offense, they might be able to choose to have a driver license suspension instead.
The revocation or withholding of issuance of a driver license would be for a minimum of six months and a maximum of one year. If the license is already suspended or revoked at the time, the suspension or revocation can be extended for at least six months and up to a year. If they are ineligible for a driver license at the time, that too would be extended by six months to a year.
Juveniles charged with theft should know they have options
While juveniles and their parents will undoubtedly be worried about the ramifications of a theft or robbery-related arrest, there are ways to mitigate the potential damage the juvenile might face. In cases with a likelihood of conviction and an alternative sentence of a driver license suspension is a possibility, it is wise to consider it.
The entire case should be assessed with the evidence and the possibility of an acquittal before moving forward. To forge a comprehensive plan, it is essential to have help from those experienced in a wide range of criminal defense strategies.