Teenagers in high school find themselves in a precarious situation when it comes to obeying the law. Most are completely unaware of criminal violations that they might commit, and many more may feel great amounts of peer pressure to commit a crime. The end result is an environment in which many high schoolers find themselves in legal hot water and do not know where to turn for help.
A quick list of some of the most common juvenile crimes carried out by teens and high schoolers:
- Sexting: Pretty much everyone over the age of 14 has a smartphone these days. Teenagers curious about sexuality have taken a liking to sending one another sexually explicit images of themselves with their smartphones, an action known as sexting. What most high schoolers do not know is that sexting can be considered strictly illegal. If the recipient or sender is over the age of 18 and the other party is not, it might be considered child pornography. If both parties are teenagers, it can still be considered a sex crime with severe consequences upon conviction. All parents should take the time to sit down with their teenage sons and daughters to let them know that sexting is illegal and must not be conducted.
- Burglary: Teenagers often look to burglary for excitement, not understanding that trespassing onto someone else’s property to steal an item or just loiter is still a serious crime. A burglary conviction alone on a high schooler’s criminal record can be enough to strip them of future opportunities, especially from attending colleges and universities.
- Robbery: High schoolers too young to have a job may turn to robbery and similar theft crimes in order to obtain the items they desire. For example, shoplifting food or alcohol is quite common among juvenile criminals.
- Vandalism: The destruction of property though vandalism is a serious and common juvenile crime. Upon conviction, the high schooler may be forced to repair or clean the damage done and the parents of the high schooler will likely need to pay a steep fine and restitutions to the victim.
- Drug possession: Marijuana and certain designer drugs, such as ecstasy, have grown in popularity among high schoolers in recent years, especially in communities that share space with a college or university. Drug possession is the most common drug crime committed by high schoolers, but it is not unheard of for a teen to commit drug distribution or manufacturing.
No matter the crimes your teenage son or daughter has allegedly committed, you can rely on Hager & Schwartz, P.A. and our Miami juvenile crimes attorneys for legal assistance and representation. We understand that a conviction for your child can jeopardize their entire future, costing jobs and educational opportunities. With this in mind, we give each criminal defense case involving high schoolers and teens absolutely all of our focus and energy, doing everything in our power to protect your son or daughter from the heavy hand of the law.
Would you like to start your case with an immediate consultation? Contact us today!
