Juvenile cases, which are officially called delinquency actions in Michigan, are difficult for parents and children alike. If your child is accused of breaking the law, the case goes through the family division of the circuit court instead of adult criminal court. The law treats anyone 17 and under as a juvenile, though for some serious cases, the juvenile can be charged as an adult. The rules for these cases are very different from the ones most people know.
Juvenile court is meant to focus on rehabilitation instead of harsh punishments. The goal is to help kids understand the consequences of their actions, not to let a single mistake ruin their futures. However, the process can still involve serious steps like probation or detention.
A finding of responsibility (similar to a conviction in criminal court) can show up on background checks and affect your child’s future opportunities. Given the stakes, it’s critically important to work with a lawyer who knows the system and how to protect your child’s rights and future.
Geherin Law Group, PLLC is ready to step up and defend juvenile defendants in Michigan, whether they’ve been accused of a minor mistake or a serious crime. Contact us today to talk with an experienced juvenile defense attorney about your child’s case.
Juvenile court handles everything from minor offenses to serious felonies. Even though the process focuses on rehabilitation, many of these charges can still lead to detention, probation, and a lasting record. Our firm can defend your child and fight for the best possible outcome.
Some of the most common charges our lawyers defend in Michigan juvenile court include:
Juvenile findings of responsibility or adult court convictions can affect your child’s future college admissions, jobs, and housing. While juvenile records are often not available to the public, law enforcement and government agencies can access them. Adult court convictions are typically public.
The earlier we can get involved, the more defense options your child may have. If your child is facing the juvenile justice or adult court system, call us right away to find out how our lawyers can help.
If your minor child (typically, under 18 years old) has been charged with a crime—called a delinquency action in Michigan—you will soon enter a world very unfamiliar to most attorneys. The number of attorneys who handle juvenile cases is very low—even amongst criminal defense attorneys. Many are not familiar enough with the different rules of procedure or are simply disinterested in this area of law.
Unfortunately, the consequences of a juvenile conviction can be quite severe and long-lasting. Often, juveniles are fingerprinted, meaning their cases may be open to public inspection and available on the internet. These convictions might keep a young person from getting a job, finding an apartment, securing financial aid or even getting into college.
If your minor child is accused of a crime, he or she will likely receive a notice to appear for a preliminary inquiry at juvenile court. If your child is accused of a serious felony and is over 14 years old, he or she may be charged as an adult through a waiver proceeding. Under either scenario, you should contact our attorneys for guidance.
We have all heard the science behind the idea that young people’s brains take years to develop, often times into their early-20’s. That fact—coupled with concepts like peer pressure, hormones and substance abuse—often leads young people to commit foolish crimes and end up in Michigan’s Criminal Justice System. Unfortunately, if a juvenile commits a serious offense, they might find themselves staring down a very scary adult prison sentence (not to mention a felony adult conviction that will haunt them the rest of their lives).
Geherin Law Group, PLLC has defended thousands of criminal and delinquency cases in Ann Arbor and throughout Southeastern Michigan for young adult and juvenile offenders. Firm founder Daniel T. Geherin is a former prosecutor and board-certified criminal trial attorney who has been practicing law for 30+ years. He is a published author on the Collateral Consequences of a Juvenile Conviction in Michigan.
Based in Ann Arbor, GLG Michigan has had a long and steady client base of University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan College Students, as well as many high school student clients from the Arbor, Saline, Chelsea, Dexter, Manchester, Ypsilanti and Lincoln School Districts. Dan is one of the few private criminal defense attorneys in Washtenaw County who specializes in juvenile delinquency cases. He is well-versed and greatly experienced in finding paths and to avoid his young clients being treated as adults and ending up on adult prison or jails.
We have defended children and young adults charged with everything from sex offenses to larceny to narcotics offenses. We will be more than happy to answer your questions and honestly assess your need for representation, and if there is a need, to help you every step of the way.
When looking for a lawyer to represent your child, ask the prospective attorney how many juvenile delinquency cases they have handled in the last year. If the number is low, call us. We will put our experience and caring to work for you, and as importantly, for your child. At the Geherin Law Group, it truly is Personal: Personal attention, Personal Options, and Personal Justice for every Juvenile client we represent.
Minor in possession of alcohol is one of the most common charges we see in juvenile cases. If your child was charged with MIP, it is important to understand exactly what the law says, what the penalties are, and why acting quickly matters.
Michigan’s MIP law, found at MCL 436.1703, makes it illegal for anyone under 21 to purchase, consume, or possess alcoholic beverages, or to attempt to do any of those things. The law also applies if a minor has any measurable bodily alcohol content resulting from alcohol consumption. This means your child does not need to be holding a drink to face a charge.
The penalties for MIP in Michigan increase with each offense. Here is what the law currently provides under MCL 436.1703:
A first offense is treated as a civil infraction under current law, but a minor only gets one opportunity to resolve an MIP at that level. Any subsequent violation becomes a criminal misdemeanor. That shift matters. A misdemeanor record is more serious than a civil infraction and can follow your child into adulthood.
Police use preliminary breath tests (PBTs) to check for alcohol in minors. Under Michigan law, an officer must first obtain your child’s consent or a court order before requiring a non-driving minor to take a PBT. There is no criminal or civil penalty for declining the test. Your child also has the right to remain silent. An admission to an officer that they drank alcohol can, on its own, be enough evidence to support a conviction.
If your child was questioned by police in connection with an MIP charge, contact us before they speak with anyone else about the incident.
Many parents treat an MIP charge as a minor issue. It is not. Even a first-offense civil infraction can require court-ordered substance abuse screening and community service. A second offense is a criminal misdemeanor that can affect your child’s driver’s license and create a record that shows up in background checks. A third offense carries the possibility of jail time and a year-long license suspension.
Beyond the legal penalties, an MIP charge can affect your child’s college applications, scholarships, and future employment. The sooner you contact an attorney, the more options may be available to protect your child’s record and future.
Our law firm defends juveniles facing MIP charges throughout Michigan. Call us today to discuss your child’s case with an experienced juvenile defense attorney.
Juvenile cases have their own set of rules and procedures, which can be confusing for anyone expecting it to be like adult criminal court. When a young person is accused of breaking the law, the process usually starts with law enforcement. A law enforcement officer, county agent, or probation officer can take a minor into custody without a court order if:
After the arrest, a few things can happen. The officer usually brings the child to the Family Division of the Circuit Court in the county where the alleged offense happened. The child may also be taken to a police station first for booking and fingerprinting. The parents and guardians must be notified immediately. Depending on how serious the charges are and if the minor has a prior criminal history, the officer may release the child into their parents’ or guardians’ custody to await their first hearing or take them to a detention facility.
A preliminary hearing is generally held within 24 hours, except on Sundays and holidays. At this hearing, a judge or referee reviews the case and decides how to proceed. The court can:
Consent calendar and diversion programs focus on community-based steps like counseling, community service, or restitution. If your child completes the program, the court closes the case and may destroy the record.
If the case goes on the formal calendar, your child is formally charged. They can admit responsibility or deny the charges and take the case to an adjudication hearing, which is similar to a trial. At trial, your child has the right to:
Working with Geherin Law Group, PLLC is the best way to protect your child’s rights and work toward the fairest and most favorable outcome possible. Contact our law office today!
