Highly Qualified Attorneys Help Juveniles Take Decisive Action When Facing Drug and Alcohol Charges in Salt Lake City

Strong criminal defense attorneys in Utah assisting juveniles charged with crimes

While many of the criminal laws are the same, juveniles who face criminal charges deal with a very different court system than adults. In addition, the penalties minors face can be severe and affect their futures. Because of this, it is important for juveniles who are charged with underage drinking, underage DUI, drug crimes or any other crime to seek the assistance of attorneys with specific experience in juvenile cases. Our lawyers at Intermountain Legal in Salt Lake City have handled many juvenile cases. We understand the juvenile court system from our work as prosecutors ourselves. This practical experience makes us highly experienced at protecting your rights and helping you achieve a better outcome than you could without seasoned legal assistance.

Underage drinking laws in Utah

Utah has very strict laws when it comes to juveniles and alcohol or drugs. The Utah underage drinking law makes it illegal for anyone who is under age 21 to drink alcohol, purchase alcohol or request another person to purchase alcohol for them. In addition, Utah laws prohibit anyone under age 18 from using a fake ID or misrepresenting their age to obtain alcohol.

Utah also has a zero tolerance policy for underage drinkers who are charged with DUI. While adults may drive with a blood alcohol content of 0.08, zero tolerance means that all drivers under 21 years old are forbidden from operating a vehicle with any blood alcohol content.

Penalties for underage drinking in Utah

Penalties for violation of Utah’s juvenile drinking laws are very severe. The best way that you can protect yourself or your child is by seeking immediate, aggressive legal representation from an attorney like the ones at Intermountain Legal. In addition to fines and jail time, juveniles may be required to participate in a substance abuse class and they may face license suspension or temporary license denial.

Underage drug crimes

Juveniles are generally subject to the same drug crime charges as adults, although the juvenile court system often treats minors differently. Like with adults, juvenile drug crimes often involve possession, use, sale, manufacture or distribution of an illegal narcotic. In Utah, illegal narcotics include:

Charges for juvenile drug crimes can be serious, even though the perpetrator is a minor, making it essential to seek support from a skilled attorney.

Juvenile drug courts in Utah

The Utah Juvenile Court has exclusive original jurisdiction in juvenile crimes where the alleged perpetrator is under 18 years of age, and violates any federal, state or municipal law. In general, a juvenile facing drug charges will have his or her case heard in a juvenile drug court, although there are combined adult and juvenile drug courts. Juvenile drug courts are aimed at minors who are first- second-time offenders. While drug court treatment for adults takes a minimum of 52 weeks, the period for juveniles ranges from a six- to 10-month minimum. Juveniles must complete 60 hours of community service, write essays on the dangers of drug use, be under on-going court supervision and fulfill other requirements during this time.

Contact Utah attorneys who work hard to understand and protect the rights of children

If you or your child is facing juvenile delinquency charges in Salt Lake City, Park City or anywhere in Utah, you need efficient, decisive assistance to work within the system to minimize the penalties and obtain results that are more favorable. The compassionate but assertive attorneys at Intermountain Legal have the experience and skill to help you or your child through this difficult time. We offer free consultations to help you understand the charges and what steps to take. To speak directly to an experienced lawyer, call us at 801-990-4200 or contact us online today.