Juvenile Defense Lawyer in Spartanburg and South Carolina

Under South Carolina law, juvenile crimes are offenses committed by minors. These are handled differently than adult offenses through the South Carolina Juvenile Justice System.

When children are accused of committing a crime in South Carolina, they go through a different system. The child is not arrested but is taken into custody. They are prosecuted in family court before a judge instead of a jury. The judge has more options focused on rehabilitation rather than just punishment.

Juvenile offenses range from minor status violations to more serious allegations. Criminal Charges for Minors include drug possession or distribution, malicious injury to property (vandalism), weapons charges, assault and battery, shoplifting or theft, and more serious allegations. Status Offenses are special statutes for juveniles: truancy, running away from home, incorrigibility, using false identification, and curfew violations.

Sometimes, depending on age and severity, family court may conduct a waiver hearing to decide whether to charge the child as an adult. Juvenile records are handled differently than adult records, and in many cases records can be sealed or expunged. Early legal help protects your child's future.