The attorneys at the Law Offices of Andrew C. Ladd take the criminal defense of juveniles very seriously because there is so much at stake when your child or family member is convicted of a juvenile crime in the state of Wisconsin.
From losing opportunities for student loans, college programs and job opportunities to the real possibility of incarceration, being convicted of a juvenile crime can have very negative consequences on offenders and their families.
Regrettably, the U.S. has been incarcerating child offenders without benefit to children or society for years. In fact, the president and CEO of the Youth First Initiative, a justice advocacy group, believes that incarceration harms young people and creates repeat offenders.
Research reveals that young people do a lot better if they stay in contact with their families, which typically results in reduced ricidivism. Reinvesting state and federal funds used for incarceration into community based programs that put an emphasis on family involvement bodes well for kids and society.
Despite the efforts of youth advocacy groups to change the way kids are treated in the juvenile justice system, there is no shortage of incarcerated youth in this country. Currently, there are over 50,000 incarcerated youth in the U.S., approximately 18,000 of which are awaiting their turn in court. All the more troubling is that approximately 200,000 youth are tried, sentenced and incarcerated as adults in our nation every year.
Families of incarcerated children are left reeling emotionally and financially, helpless to act on behalf of their loved one. Unfortunately, instead of partnering with families and communities to solve the problem as research would dictate, often times the juvenile justice system, as it is, makes a bad situation worse.
Contact Our Waukesha Wisconsin Juvenile Criminal Defense Lawyers
If your child or other family member has been charged with a juvenile crime or you believe a charge is imminent, it is important to get help. The Waukesha, Wisconsin criminal defense Law Offices of Andrew C. Ladd LLC has earned an excellent reputation among juvenile court judges and legal professionals in our pursuit of helping minors who have made a mistake. Contact us today for help at 262-542-3900. We offer a free consultation.
Source: The Atlantic, “Is Juvenile Justice Beyond Repair?”, Juleyka Lantigua-Williams, November 16, 2016.
