Juvenile Delinquency Defense

When a child is arrested in South Florida, the stakes are different but still serious. Attorney Tyler Williams defends minors through Florida's juvenile justice system.

Florida handles cases involving minors under 18 through a separate juvenile justice system, overseen by the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), rather than the standard adult criminal court process. The stated focus is rehabilitation rather than punishment, but that does not mean the stakes are low — a juvenile case can still mean detention, a formal record, and consequences that follow a young person for years.

Not every arrest leads to formal charges. Many cases are first screened for diversion, such as a Civil Citation or a similar pre-arrest or pre-charge program, which can resolve a matter without ever going before a judge. I push for these outcomes wherever a young client qualifies, since avoiding formal court involvement altogether is almost always the best result.

For more serious offenses, or depending on the child’s age and history, Florida law allows the State Attorney to direct file certain cases into adult court. When that risk exists, the approach to a case changes significantly, and early, aggressive advocacy at the intake stage becomes critical to keeping a case in the juvenile system.

How I Help

• Detention hearing representation
• Diversion and Civil Citation eligibility advocacy
• Fighting to keep a case in the juvenile system
• Probation and commitment disposition hearings
• Guidance for parents through every stage of the process