According to research, it has been found that girls are more problematic when it comes to their behavior in the juvenile justice system. They seem to have more problems in areas like family, mental and physical health, responsibility, and traumatic events, but boys were ahead when it came to having more previous criminal offenses. Stephen Gavazzi, who co-authored the study, believes this conclusion leads to the suggestion that the juvenile justice system needs to become more geared toward handling the female issues and put more resources in place.

The study was done on slightly over 300 youths who were living in the detention facility of a large juvenile court in Ohio .

Juvenile crimes are troublesome in almost every state throughout the country. An analysis of the FBI’s National Incident based reporting system data from the years 1997-1998 shows that 19 percent of the victims of nonfatal violent crimes were victimized by a juvenile offender —either a juvenile acting alone, multiple juveniles, or juvenile and adult offenders acting together.

Police recently arrested seven students at Sanford Middle School for their alleged involvement in a drug ring.

The alleged ring leader is 13-year-old Onyx Mast. Police say Mast sold marijuana, cocaine, and prescription pills to his classmates, and was able to get the drugs on campus by hiding them inside peppermint tins.

In addition to Mast, six other students have also been arrested. These students are believed to be Mast's customers, and ironically had a hand in their own arrest. One student apparently told a school official that Mast put something in his backpack, and then one by one the students started ratting each other out. Eventually Mast and the other students showed school officials their drug stash and all were consequently arrested.

Mast is now facing felony drug charges. The other six students have been charged with misdemeanors, but all stand to be expelled from school for their involvement.

Has Your Son or Daughter Been Charged with a Crime?

If your son or daughter is facing criminal charges, it's important to speak with an attorney who has experience in the Florida juvenile court system. The court process and criminal penalties are different for minors. For example, if Mast is found guilty of the charges, he could be ordered to state custody until he's 19. If he were an adult, he would be facing years in state prison, in addition to other penalties.

At the Rivas Law Firm, we have a great deal of experience in all areas of criminal defense, including juvenile criminal law. If your son or daughter has been arrested for a crime, you can trust an Orlando juvenile defense attorney at our office to protect his or her rights and work hard to secure the best possible case result. We know the toll a criminal conviction can take on your son or daughter's life, and are prepared to do everything we can help your child win their case  to avoid a potentially life-changing conviction.

To arrange a consultation to discuss your child's charges with an Orlando criminal defense lawyer at our office, contact the Rivas Law Firm today at (888) 249-1206!