No, it does not mean that the media cannot publish your child’s name in a Juvenile Court hearing. Juvenile Court hearings are open to the public unless closed by the court. The press is free to publish any information gathered at a public hearing. Florida law...
Yes. Juvenile court records should be kept separate and apart from other court records. Accessibility is limited to the child, his or her attorney and parents, DCF, law enforcement, some school personnel, and some correctional staff. They should never be accessible to...
You may have liability for delinquent acts committed by your child. Florida law allows the juvenile court to order you to pay restitution to the victim of up to $2,500 for each criminal episode in which your child is involved. In these cases, your liability is...
If your child pleads guilty or is found guilty, the judge will go on to the dispositional phase of the delinquency to determine what should be done for your child. At the disposition hearing the court is required to consider a report prepared by DCF which contains...
What does “treatment plan” mean? Under Florida law children with a delinquency petition filed against them may be able to participate in a diversion program. The child agrees to follow certain conditions and gives up the right to a speedy trial. In return,...
Does my juvenile child have a right to a trial in criminal proceedings? This again depends as there isn’t a constitutional right to be tried as a child due to age. A child can demand to be tried as an adult or could be transferred for prosecution as an adult in...
