Juvenile Crimes Attorney in Dallas

Being convicted of any criminal offense can have long-lasting effects on any individual’s life. However, juveniles face unique circumstances in the criminal justice system. Being convicted of a juvenile offense can result in numerous court-ordered penalties. These penalties can affect every aspect of a young person’s life immediately and for years to come. A juvenile conviction can change the trajectory of a young person’s life forever.

Even after juvenile offenders complete any court-ordered penalties, they still have a crime on their record. As a result, they might struggle to apply for jobs, find places to live, or further their education. At the Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter, our legal team understands how juveniles in Dallas can suffer when they lack the right opportunities early in life. We know the possible disadvantages of a juvenile charge, even years and decades after a child matures. As such, having a skilled and aggressive defense attorney can be critical to protecting a juvenile’s rights and future.

We know that young people make mistakes, and at the Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter, we’re prepared to help them reach the best possible result in their case. We aim to help young people navigate the juvenile criminal system as effectively as possible. That way, we minimize the impacts on them, their future, and their family. Our team of attorneys can help preserve your child’s future and get their life back on track. Call our Dallas juvenile justice attorneys at (214) 845-7007 or email us to talk to our team about your case immediately.

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Do I Need a Texas Juvenile Crimes Lawyer?

It can be tempting to tell your child to own up to their actions and admit guilt. You might assume the judge will go easy on your child because of their youth. It’s a mistake to assume that the charges against your child aren’t serious.

A juvenile offense may result in local jail time or even Texas Juvenile Justice Department detention. Youth incarceration may last years and can even include transfer to adult prison. The court can impose serious consequences to rehabilitate the child in all cases. This could include substance abuse treatment, counseling, or community service.

Facing allegations of a juvenile offense can be stressful and upsetting. But children have constitutional rights that allow them to fight any charges against them. The same rights to trial and defense apply to youth and adults alike. This includes the right to a trial on the merits of the offense and the right to plead not guilty and call witnesses in their defense.

With representation from a Dallas juvenile crimes lawyer, you can defend against the charges. An attorney can help you determine the appropriate defenses for your situation. They can also explain your options and what you can do to minimize the impact of the charges on your child and your family.

Why Choose the Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter?

Mark T. Lassiter, J.D., is a former Dallas County prosecutor. He knows the juvenile legal system in detail, and he’s prepared to fight for your child’s best interests. His experience includes handling various criminal offenses, including juvenile crimes. He has experience helping good people minimize the potential penalties of the charges against them. He can help you understand the charges and what you and your child can do to respond to them in the best possible way. The team at the Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter is ready to help you appropriately handle every aspect of the charges your child is facing.

Mark Lassiter is a member of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association and the Dallas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association. Texas Super Lawyers has recognized him, and he’s also listed in the Who’s Who of America and the list of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers. He is a U.S. Supreme Court Bar member and is also admitted to appear before the United States 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. His wealth of experience and widespread recognition can give you the edge you need in your case.

Common Juvenile Crimes

Minors can face charges for a variety of criminal offenses. These charges and the associated punishments vary significantly based on the severity of the crime. But a conviction of any criminal charge, no matter how seemingly minor, can have dramatic effects. As such, it is important to have experienced legal defense when facing the following charges:

Some families make the mistake of not fighting criminal charges. Instead, these good-hearted people pay their fines, hoping the state will forget these offenses in time. This mistake is a significant one. Far too often, these offenses linger, continuing to affect individuals well into adulthood. When the court finds that a child has committed an offense, they may impose significant penalties. A juvenile who commits a crime may face difficulty getting into college, finding a job, and more. In the case of serious offenses, such as sex crimes and felonies, a conviction may transfer to adult court. In that case, the matter becomes public record when the child reaches the age of majority.

What May Happen If My Child Faces a Criminal Charge in Texas?

Dallas Juvenile Crimes Attorney A child may face a youth criminal offense if they’re at least ten but less than 17 years old. The state can seek to transfer the case to adult court if the child is at least 14 and the offense is serious. An attorney can negotiate for your child to participate in a first-offender program if the offense is minor. In that case, the court could dismiss the allegations if the child completes education, rehabilitation, and community service and pays restitution.

Call a Juvenile Crimes Attorney in Dallas

We know that deciding what to do when your child faces allegations of breaking the law can be a struggle. We can help. Don’t let juvenile charges continue to affect your life and your family for years. Take action to protect your child’s rights and future today. Call our criminal defense attorneys at (214) 845-7007 today or message us via the website to contact our legal team immediately. We can help you explore your legal options and determine the best way to defend yourself against a juvenile offense.

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TESTIMONIALS

Recommendation for Mark LassiterI am pleased to write a letter of recommendation. I highly recommend Mark Lassiter to others who are seeking such assistance. His representation allowed me to do very little in my case. It was Mark’s proven expertise and his legal knowledge that was valuable in getting my case dismissed. In short, I recommend Mark enthusiastically without reservation and I do believe he would be a valuable asset to you.

- Name Redacted

dear Markplease accept this letter on my and Susan’s behalf. there is a powerful message and testimony we would like to share with you for the first time.for over a year the weight of what happened to Reid was heavy on our souls. at first we held great anger, resentment and disgust toward Angel (the passenger). it became evident after turning 21 the Angel has a severe alcohol problem which my son nor us fully understood. The arrest also brought us great disappointment, frustration and disheartenment toward Reid.We have found that God often surprises us with his answers to our prayers. Prior to the arrest was had been in prayer that God help turn Reid away from selfishness, childishness and destructive ways. We prayed that God move to change him toward everlasting values and better choices in his life. We believe that God answered that prayer with the arrest. We blamed ourselves for bringing this calamity but understood it would take something this powerful to reach him. There is no doubt in our minds this ordeal has placed a permanent imprint on his soul.during the many delays associated with this case we were able to put forgiveness in our hearts toward Angel. Also during the many delays the full weight of the case in our and Reid’s mind triggered conversations pertaining to life decisions and direction. Time allowed us the opportunity to be rid of the noise and cloudiness of our emotions. We believe this to be a part of the master plan that God was overseeing.Only today did the full story become revealed. During this case with all the odds against us can we say without question that God was in it. How else could the series of events occurred within the judicial process that could put the opportunity in to your mind that there was a way to victory. The entire morning Susan and i were in fervent prayer even after your told us we had only a 25% chance of winning.Grace is the receipt of a blessing that is undeserved. Reid did not deserve to win today. We all are eternally marked by the message of grace given to us and you were the instrument that brought the gift to our house. Thank you from bottom of our souls and may God bless and keep you all of your days.

- Name Redacted

Dear Mr. Lassiter,Today you saved my son’s life. When he received a DWI, it broke my heart because I knew it would be on his record forever. It would limit his options in life. He would be paying for his stupid mistake for the rest of his life. At 21 years of age he was overwhelmed with the depth of the problem he created for himself.I decided to find him the best lawyer in Dallas, and I did. I researched lawyers for two days, and then I found you. I knew from the moment I read about you that you were the one we needed. When I met you, I knew instantly that I had complete confidence in you. Even if the result had ended with my son being guilty, I would have had peace knowing that he had had THE BEST lawyer.Listening to you “own” the courtroom today was amazing. You told us in the morning that we only had about 25% chance to win; however, by the middle of the afternoon the case was over before the prosecutors even finished, and we won! What an incredible lawyer you are!I will be grateful forever to you. Your work has given my son a second chance. He left the courtroom today with a whole new perspective on life…thanks to you!Very sincerely,

- Susan Ellis

unless you are already a petty criminal with countless B and C misdemeanors and a misdemeanor A pending, a DWI charge might not really matter much – for all the others counts: Fight it with all you got – get the best professional to your side you can find!Why should you? A simple google search “Texas DWI penalties” will give you an idea what you are looking at: prison, probation, fines, classes, ignition interlock, insurance rate skyrockets and a criminal record for life (yes – this can happen even for a first time DWI in Texas) Now if you read until this point you probably are charged with a DWI (or simply board) and you are shopping for a lawyer – so some basic guidance:a) Same as in real life: You want to be surrounded by people who know what they are talking about. Nobody likes people who constantly brag around, through around the usual business buzz words which doesn’t mean anything. So: Get somebody who is specialized in this field, means if 50% or more of his work is in the field of defending DWI’s that’s probably a good indicator– Mark is one of them – talk to him you will see!b) Educate yourself – thanks to a wonderful innovation by DARPA (which you are using in this moment) you can read all about it: What happened the night before, what’s a SFT, what is a legal stop, how does an Intoxilyzer 5000 work and what flaws does it have, possible plea bargain options (not so tempting ones in TX anyway) – read the stuff, it’s out there and discuss it with your attorney – if he doesn’t want or can’t answer your questions, that’s a pretty good indicator that your sitting in the wrong office, run!– Mark WILL answer your questions – and I’m convinced you cannot surprise him with a question in your case that he can’t answer or will find an answer for you!c) Your lawyer should – more or less – from the beginning be willing to take your case to Trial, all the way. What do you have to lose? If you are a BAC 0.28 candidate and you plea it down to a misdemeanor B it technically looks better on paper – but it will still follow you for life (most employers wouldn’t even consider the difference or know it – a DWI is a DWI…) If you are a BAC 0.09 candidate your chances are even better – (did you know the Intoxilyzer 5000 gives himself a +-0.02 calibration margin? What now, is a BAC 0.09 and hour after driving now under the legal limit? Guess what, the state will state “off course NOT! The magic machine proved he’s Intoxicated and guilty!” That’s why you need a lawyer on your side who is willing to take it to trial!– Mark is a trial lawyer – those people don’t want to plea out, they need the courtroom as their stage, that’s what they love to do, that’s what they are good at – so let him do it for you!d) Money / Costs – completely neglect. This is not the time for price comparison. You are not out there to shop for new hardwood floor for your living room – you are out there to get the best possible outcome in a situation which initial will hurt you if convicted pretty bad (financially), possible cost you your job, destroy your reputation and will follow you around for the rest of your natural life.– Mark will not overcharge you for his service, in my opinion you are getting a great deal. If you have the feeling you cannot afford a lawyer like Mark put it into perspective: if you hire a $500 lawyer and plead guilty maybe to a DWI misdemeanor B, you will pay much more over the years in court costs, classes, probation fees, DPS surcharges, insurance and and and… But if you hire Mark, you have one of the best at your side, you have a real chance – off course Mark isn’t a magic wizard who can make everything go away in a moment’s notice, but 5,10,20 years down the road you don’t want to think “oh boy, I wish I would have fought this thing more aggressively back then…” I was already a bit into my case when I met Mark. Mark has a can do attitude, does not try to beat around the bush and most importantly: He looks at things, tries different avenues, seeks out weaknesses in the case base on the evidence presented – if you meet him, you will have the same experience. During our meetings we discussed alternatives and other options e.g. expert witnesses, jury trial, bench trial, plea agreement (even if he didn’t like that – Mark doesn’t want to plea, he wants to win for his clients)And here is the outcome:A clear acquittal – NOT GUILTY(even better than a dismissal which technically can be reopened by the DA within the statute of limitations – if I understood that right – Not guilty means you are not guilty, case expunged – that’s the end of it!)Mark’s services helped me to get the best possible outcome you can expect when you are charged with a (DWI / DUI) crime and I hope I will never see him again….. (under such circumstances J ) –

- Daniel

I would never use or recommend anyone else for anybody else for a criminal manner.

- Cory M.

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