West Palm Beach Juvenile Assault Defense Lawyer

Assault and battery are serious criminal offenses that are prosecuted aggressively by the state. Juveniles who commit assault or battery, or who have a prior record of committing these crimes, are statistically more likely to repeat the offense in the future. The court may assign severe penalties to a juvenile convicted of assault or battery to discourage him or her from committing similar offenses later in life.

If your child has been arrested for juvenile assault or battery, the West Palm Beach juvenile battery defense attorneys of the Eric N. Klein law firm are committed to defending your case.

Assault vs. Battery

Assault is the unlawful act of attempting to seriously injure another individual, or taking such action that the victim believes that a violent attack is imminent. A person does not have to physically hit another individual to be charged with assault.

Battery, on the other hand, is the act of making unlawful physical contact with another person. The physical contact does not have to be violent to be charged with battery; simply touching or grabbing a person without his or her consent could result in a battery charge.

Penalties

A juvenile who is arrested for assault or battery faces a number of severe penalties if he or she is convicted. Assault or battery may be classified as either a misdemeanor or felony offense, depending on the severity of the crime. The penalties for a conviction may include:

• Up to one year in a juvenile detention center or state prison
• Heavy fines
• Mandatory counseling and/or enrollment in a treatment program
• Community service hours
• Probation
• House arrest

In addition to these court-ordered penalties, a single conviction on your criminal record can forever change your life. Having a criminal history can make it difficult to apply for school or scholarships, find a job, or secure a loan.

If you or your child has been accused of committing assault or battery as a juvenile, it is therefore important to speak with a West Palm Beach juvenile assault and battery defense attorney as soon as possible to begin preparing your defense for court.

Contact Us

Don’t enter the courtroom feeling unprepared to defend your case. For sound legal advice and assistance regarding your criminal charges, contact the West Palm Beach juvenile assault and battery defense lawyers of Eric N. Klein & Associates, P.A., today at 561-353-2800.