Birmingham Juvenile Crime Attorney
How the Law Defines Juvenile Crime
A juvenile crime is any criminal offense committed by an individual who is considered a juvenile under Alabama law. In Alabama, a juvenile is considered a person below the age of 18 or 19. A juvenile crime can result in criminal charges that follow a young person throughout his or her adult life. Adolescents facing juvenile criminal charges should turn to an experienced criminal defense attorney to assist with their situation. At Ingram Law, LLC, our seasoned juvenile crimes lawyer in Birmingham represents young people in Jefferson County and surrounding areas of Alabama.
If you need help defending yourself or your child against criminal charges, call (205) 335-2640 to discuss your case with our attorney.
Common Types of Juvenile Crimes
Some of the crimes typically committed by juveniles include:
- Assault
- Alcohol offenses
- Driving Under The Influence
- Vandalism
- Theft
- Burglary
- Traffic violations
- Harassment
- Property damage
- Drug possession
- Sex Offenses
- Possession of a weapon
- School disciplinary offenses
There are some major differences between the juvenile and adult criminal justice systems. For example, mandatory life sentences and capital punishment are forbidden for juvenile crimes. When a juvenile’s criminal activity results in monetary losses, their parents may be held financially responsible. The punishment can vary widely, depending on the specific charges and circumstances. A young person may be sentenced to a juvenile detention facility, house arrest, electronic monitoring, probation, fines, or community service.
What is Alabama’s Juvenile Court Process?
If a minor has been detained by the police, a juvenile intake officer will determine whether to file a formal petition with the juvenile court and notify the minor’s parents. In addition, the intake officer will inform the minor and his/her parents of their rights and figure out if the minor should be released back to their parents’ custody or placed in a detention center.
If a minor is considered a dependent child or requires supervision, another option is placing him/her in the care of the Department of Human Resources. This is known as “shelter care.”
In the event a child is detained, a hearing is scheduled within 72 hours. At the hearing, the judge will decide if the child should be released to his parents or remain in detention or shelter care.
There are two alternative options for filing a formal petition:
- Informal Adjustment: The minor and his/her parents' consent to counseling by the intake officer or another counselor, as well as potentially temporary placement of up to six months with someone other than the parent or guardian.
- Consent Decree: When it comes to minors in need of supervision, a child could be supervised under special conditions and placed on probation of up to six months.
All juvenile trials in Alabama are decided by a judge – not a jury. Furthermore, all juvenile cases are sealed from public record.
Keeping the Case Out of the Adult Justice System
In some cases, a juvenile may be tried as an adult. This is most likely to happen when young people are accused of violent crimes. When prosecuted in the adult criminal justice system, the juvenile is at risk of much more severe penalties. Our juvenile crimes lawyer in Birmingham works hard to keep juvenile cases out of the adult court system.
If a young person in your family is facing criminal charges, contact us for an immediate response.
Get to Know Your Attorney
Learn More About Joe Ingram
Birmingham Criminal Defense Attorney Mr. Ingram is a native of Birmingham, Alabama. After earning his Bachelor’s Degree from Samford University, he worked for Alabama Power in Corporate Accounting. Mr. Ingram earned his law degree from Birmingham School of Law in 2002. While attending law school, Mr. Ingram worked as a law clerk in the Office of District Attorney for the Tenth Judicial Circuit in Jefferson County, Alabama. He has also served as an Assistant District Attorney in Baldwin County.
Proven Track Record
Hear From Our Satisfied Clients
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"He was very communicative about any and every question I had or any updates he had for me."I definitely would use him again if the need arises for me.- David
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"A wonderful attorney"Mr . Ingram is a very knowledgeable attorney and understanding. He worked out a wonderful deal.- Angela Jackson
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"Absolutely Great!"Mr. Ingram deals with complicated cases and makes you feels at ease with a resolution. He looks out for your best interest. Honest and empathetic to your needs.- Anonymous
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"Definitely a great attorney !"I had a issue that I needed an attorney to help me with. Mr. Ingram was the man to call upon. He answered my calls day and night. I would definitely recommend him!- Joe
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"Excellent, Just Plain Excellent"Joe Ingram was the perfect attorney my wife and I needed as we faced being deposed in our ex-son-in-law’s child custody litigation. His broad experience made it easy for him to walk us through the process, provide guidance on answering questions, and counsel us on the preparation of requested documents. As a result, my wife and I confidently entered the deposition with little or no trepidation. Really, I cannot say enough nice things about him. I just know that if I ever need an attorney or legal advice in the future, he’ll be the one I call first.- Edgar Smith, USAF Retired
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"Gets the Job Done"Thankful I chose to work with Joseph Ingram. He knows the law, made my case a priority and got the job done. Very Competent and trustworthy. I would 100% recommend Joeseph Ingram and work with him again.- GClark Johnson
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"Amazing"If you ever find yourself in need of an exceptional lawyer that goes above and beyond Joe Ingram is that person. I personally found myself calling Joe on weekends, day, night, it did not make any difference. He always made himself available. Joe worked diligently for two years on my husband’s case and through it all kept us calm with continuously assurance “it’s going to be okay”. His case did come out much better than either of us could have imagined. I cannot begin to express my gratitude and appreciation to Joe.- Ms. Franklin
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"Exceptional"My first meeting with Joe I felt as if I could trust him completely. I had a thousand questions and he patiently explained in an understandable way to me the answers. Joe took on my case. I was continually kept in the loop of the progress and of any issues along the way. Joe is an amazing attorney and a super nice person. I would highly recommend Joe if you ever need the best. Thank You Joe K. Franklin- Ken