Kids will be kids. Except when their crimes are adult crimes.

When preteens or teenagers behave like adults and dabble in criminal activities, parents fear the financial burden. Naturally, parents also wring their hands over the black mark on their child's record. But when juvenile drug charges are levied against your kid, parents have more than just a black mark to worry about: They have their child's health, the fines, the punishment, and how the charges will affect just about everything in his or her future.

Every single day, young people are overdosing, winding up in hospitals, and worse--dying from drug use. Courts are scrutinizing drug crimes far more harshly than ever before; thus, identifying a plan that will result in the least harmful results for your child is critical.

Potential Damage Juvenile Drug Charges Cause to Your Child's Future

The seriousness of juvenile drug charges varies depending on the circumstances. If your child has had a clear record and a history of responsible behavior, it can be helpful to his or her case. However, you must understand that even the most model young person can face serious consequences for committing a drug crime.

These are penalties and consequences that a juvenile drug offender can face:

• Jail time – If you child is a juvenile, he or she could face time in juvenile criminal facilities.
• Fines – Fines can quickly add up when charged with a juvenile drug crime.
• Disqualification of College Aid Funding – If the crime is a felony, the juvenile is not eligible to apply for Federal Financial Aid.
• Court Ordered Drug Rehabilitation – If the court finds your child suffers from a drug abuse problem, he or she could be ordered to submit to a rehabilitative program.

Options to Preserve Your Child Future

Diversion programs are one way for a youth or young person to emerge from his or her drug charges without a record. An experienced criminal defense attorney can weigh the case and request the court to allow the suspected youth to enter a program where the person charged agrees to submit to a combination of drug tests, monitoring, and education for a period. When all aspects of the program are followed, the charges are dismissed and no record exists.

Another option the court could potentially grant is expungement. This is an option when the person charged fulfills the penalty requirements and waits for several years, depending on the type of conviction, and does not incur any additional violations. The conviction is removed and the person convicted is free to not list the crime when applying for schools, jobs, military enlistment, or financial aid.

Steve Karimi has prosecuted many cases when he served as a prosecutor. His experience working with the courts will work to your benefit just as it will work to your child's benefit and future. His goal is to help you and your child prepare for the best results. Contact Karimi Law today either online or at 206-621-8777.