In South Carolina anyone under the age of 18 is considered a juvenile and if they are charged with a crime are usually sent to juvenile court. The Juvenile Court System is separate from the adult criminal courts system and have the goal of meeting the needs of children and teenagers charged with crimes. The Juvenile Court System is also designed to counsel and educate children, as wells as rehabilitate. The adult criminal courts are more likely to focus on punishment than rehabilitation.

Many of the laws and procedures in Juvenile Court are different than adult court. There is no right to a jury trial and there is no right to bail. Hire a Coastal Law attorney when your child's future is at stake.
At Coastal Law We advise parents and represent juveniles facing the Juvenile Court System for problems such as the following: 

• Shoplifting, theft, check forgery
• Drunk driving: DWI, DUI
• Minor possession of alcohol and/or drugs
• Assault, weapons offenses
• Runaways
• Automobile theft
• Burglary
• Vandalism
• Truancy or curfew violations
• Simple possession, marijuana and/or cocaine
• Substance abuse problems involving drugs or alcohol
• Drug crimes: Possession, sale, trafficking, or transport of cocaine, methamphetamine (a.k.a. Crystal meth), THC, cocaine, MDMA, heroin, or marijuana
• Sex offenses, including consensual sex between minors
• Date rape
• Sex crimes: Statutory rape
• Aggravated battery
• Domestic assault and battery
• Simple battery

If appearing in Juvenile Court is necessary, the courts will consider some of the following information:

 

(1) Home environment: it is very important to show the court that the juvenile has a very structured and stable home environment. Ideally, you want to show the court that the juvenile will be supervised 24 hours a day by a responsible adult.
 
(2) Child's behavior in the home: The child's parent/guardian can testify as to the child's background and will hopefully, be able to highlight the absence of prior runaway or incorrigible behavior.
 
(3) Child's special needs and disabilities
 
(4) Character witnesses: neighbors, clergy, teachers, coaches, counselors, employers, psychologists, etc. Because of the short notice given before a detention hearing, it may be difficult to gather these witnesses; however, be sure to make every effort to have them there since they can be a valuable source of information regarding the child's nature and positive character traits.
ii) It is essential for the juvenile's parent or guardian to attend the detention hearing and make a request that the juvenile be released to his/her custody if that is what the defense is requesting.
 
There are several South Carolina Codes that deal with Juveniles:

Determination of Capacity (S.C. Code Ann. §44-23-410)
Hearing on Fitness to Stand Trial (S.C. Code Ann. §44-23-430)
Procedure for Involuntary Admission (S.C. Code Ann. §44-20-450)
Petition for Judicial Commitment (S.C. Code Ann. §44-17-510)
Dispositional Powers of the Court
Adjudication (S.C. Code Ann. §20-7-7805)
Suspension/Restriction of Driver’s License (S.C. Code Ann. §20-7-7807)
Commitment (S.C. Code Ann. §20-7-7810)
Commitment of Mentally Ill or Retarded (S.C. Code Ann. §20-7-7815)
Detention
Out of Home Placement (S.C. Code Ann. 20-7-7210
Detention Hearing/Psychological Screening (S.C. Code Ann. § 20-7-7215)
Waiver (S.C. Code Ann. §20-7-7605)
Expungement of Juvenile Records (S.C. Code Ann. §20-7-8525)

 

Telephone: Coastal Law - Main Office:  1-843-488-5000

Monday to Friday   8:00am to 5:00pm (EST)

Arrested or Injured? For emergencies, we have attorneys on call 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Call us at 843-488-5000.

 

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