There are only four possible outcomes for a juvenile or minor arrested and charged in Fort Walton Beach or Destin, Florida.
- Dismissal (nol pros)
- Diversion (pre-trial intervention or deferred prosecution agreement)
- No Contest or Guilty Plea (Probation, Juvenile Program, or Secure Detention)
- Judge Trial
The first two possibilities are dismissal and diversion. These are considered excellent outcomes because, either way, the case will be resolved without a plea or a conviction. This allows for the best possible result, called a record expungement.
Simply put, an expungement is a subsequent legal process in which the juvenile’s arrest and criminal offense are substantially removed from the public record. This type of result should be the clear goal of any criminal defense attorney.
The second two possibilities, a plea or a judge trial, could result in an adjudication of delinquency and a juvenile sentencing disposition that may include a wide variety of sanctions or jail sentences.
If you get a call from your child under 18 after an arrest in Destin, Fort Walton Beach, or elsewhere in Okaloosa County, or if they’ve been released and you have a court date, call me immediately at (850) 362-6655. The call is free, and we’ll discuss what your son or daughter faces and what I can do.