One Mistake at 16 Shouldn't Follow Them at 26

When your child is arrested, the fear hits fast — fear for their future, their education, their opportunities. As a juvenile defense attorney serving Marietta and Cobb County, I work with families to understand exactly what they're facing, protect their rights from the moment of arrest, and pursue every legal avenue Georgia's juvenile system offers to keep this moment from defining their life.

How Georgia's Juvenile System Actually Works

Georgia's juvenile courts operate under the Georgia Juvenile Code, which applies to defendants under the age of 17. The process, the goals, and the consequences are meaningfully different from adult criminal court — and understanding those differences is the first step in building a real defense.

 

Juvenile proceedings focus on rehabilitation alongside accountability. That means the system has built-in tools that adult court simply doesn't offer — diversion programs, informal adjustments, and conditional dispositions that can result in no conviction on your child's record if they complete the program. Many families don't know these options exist. I do, and I know how to pursue them.

 

The most common juvenile charges I see in Cobb County include:

 

 

Each of these carries its own range of outcomes in juvenile court — and in most cases, there is far more room to maneuver than families initially believe.

Tall white buildings and palm trees against a bright blue sky in Miami.

Will My Child Be Tried as an Adult?

This is the question I hear most often from parents, and the fear behind it is completely understandable. The short answer is: transfer to adult court is not automatic, even for serious charges.

 

Georgia law requires specific criteria to be met before a juvenile can be transferred to adult court. The judge weighs the nature of the offense, the minor's age, and their prior record, among other factors. For certain serious felonies — such as murder, armed robbery, or rape — Georgia law does create a category of "designated felonies" that can result in adult prosecution. But even in those cases, the transfer is a legal decision, not a foregone conclusion.

 

If adult transfer is a possibility in your child's case, challenging that transfer is one of the most important things we can do early in the process. I've worked within this system long enough to know where the arguments are — and where the state's position is weakest.

Tell Them to Stop Talking. Then Call Me.

If your child was just arrested and police are questioning them right now, the most important thing you can do is tell your child to stop answering questions. Juveniles have the same constitutional right to remain silent as adults. Anything said during police questioning — even something that seems harmless or helpful — can be used against them in juvenile proceedings.

 

A parent being present during questioning does not substitute for legal counsel. It is not the same protection. The moment an attorney is involved, questioning must stop. That is a right worth using immediately.

Juvenile Records in Georgia: What Parents Get Wrong

Many families assume that because their child is a minor, the record disappears automatically when they turn 18. That is not how Georgia law works.

 

Juvenile records in Georgia are not automatically sealed or expunged. They remain accessible in certain circumstances and can affect college applications, financial aid eligibility, professional licensing, and background checks. However, Georgia does provide expungement options under specific conditions — and pursuing those options strategically, at the right time, is something I help families plan for from the beginning of a case.

 

Protecting your child's future means thinking beyond the courtroom. It means understanding what a disposition actually does to their record, whether diversion is available, and what steps to take after a case closes to minimize long-term impact.

Georgia's juvenile system responds better to a measured, strategic approach than to courtroom theatrics — and that matches exactly how I practice. My goal in every juvenile case is to protect your child's future, not to escalate a situation that calls for thoughtful advocacy.

 

I've been practicing criminal defense since 2000, and I spent time as a Cobb County prosecutor before that. I know how the state evaluates juvenile cases and what factors influence a prosecutor's decision to pursue charges aggressively or offer a diversion alternative. That perspective matters when I'm sitting across the table advocating for your child.

Former Prosecutor Perspective

Having spent time on the state's side of the table, I understand how juvenile cases are built and where they're vulnerable. I use that knowledge to identify the arguments most likely to produce a favorable outcome — whether that's a diversion program, a reduced charge, or a dismissal.

Diversion Programs and Second Chances

Georgia's juvenile system includes diversion programs specifically designed to give first-time and low-level offenders a path that doesn't end in a conviction. If your child qualifies, completing a diversion program can result in the charge being resolved without a finding of delinquency — keeping their academic and employment record intact. I identify eligibility early and advocate for placement wherever the facts support it.

Challenging the Evidence

Juvenile charges still require the state to prove its case. Field observations, witness statements, school resource officer reports — all of it is subject to scrutiny. I review every piece of evidence to identify weaknesses in the state's case and build a defense strategy that reflects the full picture of what happened.

Planning for What Comes After

A case closing is not the end of the process. I help families understand what the disposition means for their child's record, what expungement options may become available, and what steps to take to minimize long-term consequences. The goal is always the broadest possible protection for your child's future.

Questions Families Ask About Juvenile Defense in Georgia

  • What happens if a teenager is charged with a crime in Georgia?

    Teenagers under 17 are processed through Georgia's juvenile court system, which operates under the Georgia Juvenile Code. Cases are handled by a juvenile court judge rather than a jury, and the focus is on rehabilitation alongside accountability. Depending on the charge and the minor's history, outcomes can range from informal adjustment to diversion programs to formal adjudication — each with different consequences for the child's record.

  • Can a juvenile record affect my child's college or job prospects?

    Yes. Georgia juvenile records are not automatically sealed when a minor turns 18. Certain adjudications can appear on background checks used by colleges, employers, and licensing boards. However, Georgia does provide expungement options under specific conditions, and planning for that process from the start of a case can significantly reduce long-term impact.

  • At what age can a juvenile be tried as an adult in Georgia?

    Georgia law allows juveniles to be transferred to adult court under specific circumstances, including the nature of the offense, the minor's age, and their prior record. For certain serious felonies, prosecution in adult court is possible — but transfer is a legal decision, not an automatic outcome, and it can be challenged. The earlier an attorney is involved, the more options exist.

  • Do juveniles have the right to remain silent during police questioning?

    Yes. Juveniles have the same constitutional right to remain silent as adults, and anything said during police questioning can be used in juvenile proceedings. A parent being present is not a substitute for legal counsel. If your child has been arrested, they should stop answering questions immediately until an attorney is present.

  • What juvenile charges are most common in Cobb County?

    The juvenile charges I most frequently handle in Cobb County include shoplifting, marijuana possession, assault, reckless driving, and vandalism. Many of these offenses are eligible for diversion programs for first-time offenders — meaning a conviction may be avoidable entirely if the minor completes the program and meets the conditions set by the court.