Criminal Law Juvenile Criminal Defense
University of Pittsburgh Juvenile Crime Defense Attorneys
Young people can be charged with crimes just like adults. Juvenile cases differ in the way the case is adjudicated and in the penalties imposed. Our law firm works with the young person and his or her family to help them move forward after a juvenile charge. To do this, we work hard to get the true facts of the matter. When we are fully prepared in this way, we are able to mount a vigorous defense against juvenile criminal charges. If your child has been charged with a crime, contact juvenile defense lawyer Melvin Vatz to learn how we can help.
Kids are charged with the same crimes as adults
Mr. Vatz has many years of experience in the adult and juvenile criminal justice system. He has successfully defended kids against all types of charges, including:
- Drug charges, including possession or distribution of ecstasy, crack, meth, marijuana, and heroin
- Underage consumption of alcohol and DUI
- Theft, including theft of services such as bus fare, retail theft such as shoplifting,
- Sex crimes, including child molestation, date rape
Youthful clients
Our clients include Carnegie Mellon and University of Pittsburgh students, young teenagers, kids with drug problems, kids who have been in trouble before, and good kids who have never encountered the legal system before. What unifies this diverse group of youthful offenders is their age–they are all under 18–and their parents’ concern for their well-being.
The goal of juvenile justice is to help, not punish
The goal in juvenile criminal matters is to help kids, rather than punish them. We work with juvenile court officials to try to keep kids out of the juvenile justice system. We get our clients into drug or alcohol treatment programs, have them complete community service, or serve a period of supervised probation. This may allow the charges to be dismissed altogether while providing the young person with the treatment he or she needs to move forward successfully.
Contact a juvenile crime defense lawyer sensitive to the needs of kids
If your child has been charged with a criminal offense, contact an attorney sensitive to the needs of young people. Melvin Vatz has been helping juveniles and their families for more than 25 years. He understands the emotional as well as the legal issues involved when a young person faces a criminal charge. From our Pittsburgh office, we serve communities in Allegheny, Washington, Butler, Beaver, and Westmoreland counties. Call the Law Office of Melvin L. Vatz at (412) 391-3030 to schedule your free consultation with Mr. Vatz today.