Juvenile Law

Florida Juvenile Dependency and Delinquency

A child deserves the chance to live a productive life that is free of violence. Neglect, abuse, and crime all jeopardize the chances a child has to fulfill these goals. Juvenile dependency and juvenile courts focus on rehabilitating and protecting children.

For almost 25 years, attorney Carol G. Vlachos has been representing families and children in dependency and delinquency cases. The Law Office of Carol G. Vlachos, located in Bonita Springs, Florida, represents people throughout Southeast Florida. Contact us for an initial consultation about a child's legal question.

Juvenile Dependency

Juvenile dependency refers to a petition filed by the Florida Department of Children and Family Services alleging child abuse and neglect. Filed with a juvenile dependency court, these allegations are serious. If successful, juvenile dependency allegations might terminate a person's parental rights. When the state makes false or unjustified accusations against you, speak to lawyer Carol G. Vlachos about your juvenile dependency case.

Our firm represents children and families of abused and neglected children. We petition the court to appoint a guardian to protect a child against further abuse or neglect. The court will determine what is in the best of a child before appointing a guardian. We will make sure children do not suffer further injury from parents and relatives.

Juvenile Delinquency and Crime

The type of criminal charge minors face depends on the seriousness of the crime, and the age of the child. In some instances, the court will charge a juvenile as an adult. We focus on keeping a child's case in juvenile court, where they will get the appropriate rehabilitation and care.

Juvenile court focuses more on the rehabilitation and development of juvenile offenders. These courts provide more alternative sentences than an adult court. The goal of juvenile court is to provide children with the tools they need to overcome obstacles in their lives and not to commit another crime. Some of the tools available in juvenile court include:

• Counseling
• Drug and Alcohol Treatment
• Out of Home Placement
• Intensive Supervision

Contact attorney Carol G. Vlachos for an initial consultation. Our firm represents people throughout Fort Myers, Naples, Lehigh Acres, Immokalee, and Lee County.