Coral Gables Contributing to Child Delinquency Lawyers

Hey there! As a parent, we all want to do what’s best for our kids. But sometimes, even with the best intentions, we may engage in behaviors that could be seen as contributing to the delinquency of a minor. If you find yourself in some legal hot water in Coral Gables, Florida for this, you’ll definitely want to reach out to an experienced lawyer.

What Does “Contributing to Child Delinquency” Mean?

Basically, this charge means that through your actions, you’ve helped a minor engage in delinquent or criminal behavior. The kid doesn’t have to actually get arrested or anything. If your actions could just make it easier for them to break the law, that could get you in trouble.

Some examples could be:

• Providing alcohol or drugs to a minor
• Allowing minors to engage in illegal activities at your home
• Knowingly allowing minors to break curfew laws
• Exposing minors to pornography or other “obscene” material
• Verbally encouraging minors to commit crimes

So even if you didn’t think you were doing anything wrong, the legal system may see things differently. These charges can be brought as misdemeanors or felonies, depending on what exactly happened.

What Are the Specific Laws in Coral Gables, FL?

The laws prohibiting contributing to child delinquency in Coral Gables are covered under Florida Statute 827.04 and Coral Gables Code of Ordinances Sec. 19-2.

Under Florida law, it’s a first-degree misdemeanor if a minor ends up actually getting arrested. It’s a second-degree misdemeanor if that doesn’t happen. The maximum penalties are up to one year in jail or $1,000 in fines for a first-degree misdemeanor and up to 60 days in jail or $500 in fines for a second-degree one.

Coral Gables has a similar law that prohibits any actions that could “encourage, cause, or contribute to the dependency or delinquency of a minor.” This is a second-degree misdemeanor under the city code.

So you can see that the consequences can be pretty serious if you’re found guilty. These types of charges shouldn’t be taken lightly.

How Can a Lawyer Help with Your Defense?

Facing criminal charges is scary, but a knowledgeable lawyer can help make the process less intimidating while building the strongest defense for your specific situation. Here are some of the ways they can help:

• Evaluate the evidence – They’ll look at what evidence the prosecution has against you to see if you actually violated the law or if the charges are unfounded.
• Challenge problematic evidence – If any evidence was obtained illegally or if certain procedures weren’t followed properly, your lawyer can fight to get that evidence excluded from the case.
• Negotiate with the prosecutor – In many cases, they may be able to negotiate with the prosecutor to get the charges reduced or even dismissed without going to trial.
• Raise affirmative defenses – There are certain defenses that could potentially apply to contributing to child delinquency charges which could lead to an acquittal. An experienced lawyer will know how and when to make these arguments.
• Advocate for you in court – If the case does go to trial, your lawyer will aggressively defend you and make sure your rights are protected each step of the way.

The right lawyer will look at every angle of your case to build the strongest defense strategy possible. Don’t leave the outcome to chance – get an experienced contributing to child delinquency lawyer in your corner.

What Are Some Potential Defenses in These Cases?

There are a few arguments that a skilled lawyer might use to defend against these charges, like:

Lack of Knowledge – If you genuinely didn’t know the minor was going to use the alcohol/drugs you provided or engage in criminal activity, then you may not have the requisite intent required to be found guilty. Your lawyer could argue you never meant to contribute to their delinquency.

False Accusations – Sometimes these charges arise from false accusations made by a minor against an adult. Your lawyer can investigate the claims and fight to prove your innocence.

Free Speech – The First Amendment protects speech in many instances, so statements you made may be protected free speech not subject to prosecution.

Parental Rights – Parents have constitutionally protected rights when it comes to raising their children. If you’re the parent, your lawyer can argue you were acting within your rights.

Unconstitutional Vagueness – For “contributing to delinquency” laws in particular, a lawyer may argue they are too vague to be enforceable. These creative defenses could potentially get your charges dismissed or reduced.

Work with a Former Prosecutor for Insight

Here’s a pro tip – if possible, choose a lawyer who used to work as a prosecutor. As a former prosecutor, they’ll have insight into the other side’s strategies and mindset. This inside perspective can be invaluable in anticipating their moves and developing effective counter-arguments.