Experienced Juvenile Crimes Attorney
You have hopes and dreams for your child. You imagine only the best for him or her, and you do everything you can to ensure a bright future. Unfortunately, far too many parents know how easily these dreams can be derailed. Finding out that your child has been arrested launches a stream of conflicting emotion: anger, shame, disappointment and fear are all common responses to discovering that your child has been accused of juvenile delinquency or committing a criminal offense. Though juvenile court proceedings do not offer all the same rights as an adult trial — a jury of one’s peers, for example — your child still has rights that must be protected.
Among those rights is the right to effective assistance of counsel. When your child’s future is at stake, consult Oklahoma City juvenile crime defense lawyer Patrick Quillian. CLE-compliant and qualified to practice in juvenile courts, Patrick Quillian will launch an aggressive defense of your child, working diligently to minimize the impact a juvenile offense may have on your child’s life, now and in the future.
Juvenile Defense Lawyer In Oklahoma City
When a minor under the age of 18 is charged with a delinquent act or juvenile crime, there are three options for how the case is prosecuted:
- As a juvenile delinquent in the Oklahoma juvenile courts
- As a youthful offender in the District Courts of Oklahoma
- As an adult subject to adult sentencing in the District Courts of Oklahoma
Patrick Quillian is an experienced criminal defense attorney successfully representing defendants in juvenile court and in state and federal District Courts. Whether a juvenile delinquency case has been filed against your child, your child is charged as a youthful offender, or your child will be tried as an adult, Oklahoma City juvenile crime defense attorney Patrick Quillian has the skill, experience and resources to defend your child for an outcome that maintains your child’s potential to be a productive member of society.
Oklahoma City Juvenile Crime Lawyer
Your child’s legal battle may be the result of a thoughtless, impulsive gesture, or it may be the accumulation of smaller offenses that led to involvement in a serious felony. Regardless of the circumstance, Patrick Quillian is dedicated to providing the superior legal services that will provide your child with the opportunity to recover from this difficult time and make better choices for the future. He represents juveniles accused of delinquent and criminal offenses:
- Theft, shoplifting and burglary
- Vandalism, trespassing and property crimes
- Drug possession and drug distribution
- DUI, minor in possession of alcohol, and alcohol offenses
- Assault and violent crimes
- Sexual assault, rape and statutory rape
- Weapons offenses and firearm possession
- Reckless driving and traffic offenses
- Truancy and curfew violations
Penalties for juvenile delinquency and juvenile crimes can range in severity from probation and community service to confinement in a juvenile detention center or incarceration in an adult facility. Patrick Quillian will zealously strive to get your child the help he or she needs, working to restore your family. A child charged with marijuana possession is likely better served by drug counseling than incarceration, and Patrick Quillian will negotiate for a positive outcome for your child. In some cases, he will be able to have the charges against your child completely dismissed. If a child is convicted of a juvenile crime, he will litigate for a sentence appropriate to your child’s age and circumstance.
Juvenile Courts
Juvenile courts oversee the legal matters pertaining to children and youth under the age of 18. While the juvenile court system intends to rule in the best interest of the child, the decision may be complicated by a number of factors. In criminal matters, prosecutors and judges may determine that taking a firm stand against juvenile crime outweighs the potential of the individual child. In DHS matters, child custody decisions may become clouded by heavy caseloads and conflicting witness statements.
In dealing with the legal rights of children and teenagers, it is necessary that these young Oklahomans have a voice. Oklahoma City juvenile court lawyer Patrick Quillian can stand up for children who have been accused or abused. He can offer assertive defense in juvenile crime cases, and he can serve as an advocate for neglected children in juvenile deprived matters. No matter the legal issue faced by your child or a child you love, attorney Patrick Quillian diligently works to protect the child and his or her future.
Your child’s well-being is important to Patrick Quillian. To ensure that he can offer quality legal services in juvenile proceedings, he maintains compliance with CLE (Continuing Legal Education) requirements for practicing in the juvenile courts of Oklahoma.
Oklahoma County Juvenile Court Lawyer: Juvenile Crime
Most parents dream of a bright future for their children, never anticipating that a youthful mistake can destroy some of their greatest hopes for a child. Delinquent offenses such as truancy, vandalism, curfew violations and running away can have a significant impact on a young person’s future. Juvenile crimes such as shoplifting or theft, drug possession, DUI, assault and rape can lead to incarceration in a juvenile detention center. While in many criminal complaints, a minor will be charged as a youthful offender, Oklahoma law allows for children to be tried as adults under certain circumstances.
If your child is facing a juvenile delinquency hearing or prosecution for a juvenile crime, it is important that he or she is represented by an Oklahoma City juvenile crime defense lawyer who is experienced in the juvenile courts and who is truly committed to your child’s best interests.
Oklahoma Juvenile Court Lawyer: Deprived And DHS Cases
Rates of child abuse and neglect in Oklahoma are among the nation’s highest. Unfortunately, many of these neglected children slip through the cracks, with no one to advocate for them and no one to protect their rights and well-being. Oklahoma juvenile court attorney Patrick Quillian represents juvenile deprived cases to support the legal rights and best interests of our state’s youngest citizens.
While some of these children do not receive adequate assistance from the beleaguered Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS), in other cases, DHS may act to aggressively to remove a child from his or her home. For parents involved in DHS proceedings, Patrick Quillian can represent you to work for the reunification of your family.