What are the collateral consequences of a juvenile conviction?

| Jan 29, 2021 | Juvenile offenses |

Juvenile charges are a serious matter in which a miner receives a conviction for criminal charges. The direct consequences of a sentence for a juvenile crime can include incarceration, fines, and mandatory rehabilitation. While you may expect these consequences, there are collateral consequences that you may not expect.

Collateral consequences are indirect consequences to a conviction, and they can be more severe than you thought. The police arrest more than 700,000 minors every year for criminal charges, which means that all of them may experience serious collateral consequences such as:

Loss of education

A high school or middle school student may receive suspension or expulsion for their juvenile charges, but their college education may also be at risk. A felony conviction on a record may prevent a minor from receiving the scholarship they need to attend college.

Poorer education performance

If a student is lucky enough to keep their education opportunity, they may not be able to maintain the same level of performance they previously had. Juvenile convictions can result in students performing with less effort or no effort in their classes and can also result in a higher truancy rate.

Harsher future sentencing

Every previous conviction on a defendant’s record makes it much harder to defend against any future criminal charges successfully. The consequences of a second or third conviction can also be more severe because of any other prior convictions as well.

Financial hardship

In addition to parents paying for legal fees and suffering lost income to attend court dates, there may be other financial struggles that come with juvenile charges. Part of the sentencing from a conviction can include heavy fines and mandatory rehabilitation attendance. These rehab programs can be extremely expensive, and if the parents are unable to pay all of the fines, the charge can remain on the child’s record as they become an adult. With a criminal history on their record, a young adult may also encounter difficulties earning a well-paying job in the future.

Defend against these charges

Juvenile crimes are no laughing matter, and both the direct and consequential consequences can have a severe impact on the future in ways you may not have expected. Consult with the defense attorney you can trust to represent your past interests and secure the best possible outcome in that defense.