We all did something in our youth that we wish we could take back, but when those foolish mistakes cross the line into criminal behavior, teens can end up facing serious criminal charges. If your son or daughter is facing a criminal charge, you need to set up an appointment with a Minnesota criminal lawyer. We know you’re probably angry, embarrassed or you want to teach them a lesson, but letting them get found guilty and facing the wrath of a judge isn’t the way to do it. Connect with one of our Twin Cities juvenile crimes lawyers to take the first step in getting life back on track.

Minnesota Juvenile Crimes Lawyer

A youthful mistake shouldn’t follow your child for the rest of their life, but it can if you’re not smart about the steps you take following their arrest. Getting into college, renting an apartment or securing that job can all become much more difficult if your child has a criminal conviction on their record, especially if it’s for something like drug possession, theft or assault. Let Avery and the team at Appelman Law Firm help sort it all out and ensure your child’s future isn’t at risk. Avery and his team have helped many juveniles put a mistake in the past and get back on the right track, and he can do the same for you. Still on the fence? Read perhaps the single best review we’ve ever received.

“Early one evening I was informed that my daughter was arrested for some serious charges! I was confused, fearful, anxious, I did not know what to do! I needed immediate help. Fortunately, I was referred to Avery Appelman. I called Avery as he was in his car going to coach son’s soccer game. Avery shut down his life, took the time to talk with me and went to jail and visit with my daughter. I am 100% convinced having Avery represent my daughter saved her life. I couldn’t have been happier with his dedicated compassionate service! My daughter and I were frightened about the felony charges she was confronted with. Avery did a fabulous job communicating with us, he developed a plan of action for my daughter and kept us informed, he and his staff responded to our calls, emails and text messages. It was clear that Avery was concerned about my daughter as an individual with unique problems. He helped guide us through the court process and ensured my daughter remained motivated to partner with him in the process of her own defense. Thanks to Avery’s commitment and strategy my daughter didn’t serve jail time and her felony case was DISMISSED! The most important result of Avery’s representation…. my daughter is sober, happy and healthy. She’s alive, and to me that is the most important thing. My daughter is an active participant in AA community, and has a new life with many new sober friends. She is doing better than ever before. I am indebted to Avery for his representation, support, and guidance through such tough times. Avery doesn’t just seek out and achieve great legal outcomes for his clients, he also helps them transform their lives so they have a happy future. If Avery called me in the middle of the night, I would do whatever to help him because of how he helped me and my daughter. If you are charged with a crime, the only call you need to make is to Avery Appelman and the Appelman Law Firm.”

Common Minnesota Juvenile Crimes

Kids can get into trouble in any number of ways, but here’s a look at some of the most common crimes that lead to juvenile charges in Minnesota:

Alcohol Violations Involving Minors
Drunk driving
Speeding, reckless driving, and texting while driving
Grand theft auto
Shoplifting
Employee theft
Public Nuisance
Drug possession
Obstruction of justice
Disturbing the peace
Curfew Violations

This is far from the full list of juvenile crimes that we assist clients with, but those tend to be some of the most common. If you or your child are dealing with one of these issues, reach out to the team at Appelman Law Firm for a free strategy session.

Juvenile Crimes – Penalties And Defenses

The potential penalties that your juvenile will face will vary based on the specifics of their alleged crime and the charges they are facing. At one end, they may only face the possibility of a fine for a petty offense, whereas they can face serious jail time and major fines for more serious felony-level actions. We can talk you through the specifics of their potential penalties during our initial consultation, but don’t assume they are just in line for a slap on the wrist because of their age.

Moreover, you could end up facing criminal charges for something that your child did. This is most common when alcohol is involved. For example, if you hosted a party where underage individuals were allowed to drink, or you left for the weekend and had reason to believe underage alcohol consumption would take place at your home, and an intoxicated individual went on to cause an accident and injure someone else, the law can hold the parents accountable for their role in creating an environment that lead to a criminal situation. We understand that you may want any underage alcohol consumption to occur where you can keep an eye on the situation, or you may assume that as long as you don’t see the drinking happening that you can feign ignorance, but if an underage individual drinks alcohol that you provided for them or the consumption occurs on your property, and you have reasonable knowledge of these actions, you become responsible for their actions. If they mess up, you can face serious jail time.

Defenses will be tailored to the unique situation, but know that a strong defense will be rooted in more than “He’s a young kid that made a dumb mistake.” We’ll review the facts, interview witnesses, analyze video recordings or text messages, talk with your child and explore all aspects of the case before coming up with the best path forward for their situation. Sometimes that’s a strong defense, other times it’s negotiating with the prosecution to avoid a worst case scenario by securing a favorable plea deal. We’ll explore all options when helping your child.

Helpful Juvenile Crime Resources

Below, you’ll find some webpages and blogs that we’ve written that you may find helpful if you or your child is facing a juvenile criminal charge: