Criminal Defense · Tampa Bay

Tampa Juvenile Defense Lawyers

If your child has been arrested, contacted by police, or given a court date, understanding the next step matters. Nicole N. Sanchez and Tyler K. Vaughn represent young people in juvenile delinquency matters throughout Tampa Bay. We review the allegation, custody status, and evidence while considering school, family circumstances, and the child's future.

Request a consultation · Call 813.582.5188 · Text 813.401.9918

Start with your child's immediate situation

We begin with three questions: Where is your child now? What is the next court date or requested interview? What written instructions or restrictions has the family received?

Tell us the county, the child's age, the allegation if known, and whether the child is in custody. You do not need a complete file before requesting a consultation. Keep court notices and release conditions available, and ask counsel about any instruction you do not understand.

What to gather for a consultation

Bring the documents you already have. This checklist helps us identify urgent issues and the information still needed.

Court and custody paperwork: Notices, petitions, release conditions, detention orders, the case number, and the next hearing date.
Agency contacts: The investigating agency, officer's name, and any contact information supplied by a juvenile probation officer or assessment center.
A short timeline: When and where the incident, questioning, arrest, or school meeting occurred.
Existing evidence: Relevant messages, photographs, videos, and names of potential witnesses. Preserve originals without editing or deleting them.
School information: Discipline notices, meeting dates, attendance information, and relevant educational supports or accommodations.
Prior case or program documents: Any earlier court orders, diversion agreements, or completion records that may affect the current matter.

Ask our team how to provide sensitive documents securely. Do not send confidential details about a child through an initial website message.

What may happen in a juvenile case

The route depends on the allegation and the decisions made along the way. A case may be diverted or resolved without going through every stage below.

Intake and the detention decision
Intake screening helps determine whether a child will be released, supervised, or held. A detention hearing addresses custody; it does not decide whether the allegation is proved. Florida's detention statute generally requires a hearing within 24 hours for a child taken into custody and placed in detention care, subject to the statute's provisions. We review the risk assessment, allegations, history, and proposed release conditions. Florida Statutes § 985.255.
Filing decisions and defense preparation
The State Attorney decides how to proceed. We examine the evidence and available defenses, explain any proposed resolution, and assess whether a diversion option may be available. The family should keep track of every court date and any separate school proceeding.
An adjudicatory hearing, if the case is contested
An adjudicatory hearing is the juvenile court's trial. A judge hears the case without a jury, and the State must prove the allegation beyond a reasonable doubt. The child can present evidence and cross-examine witnesses. Florida Statutes § 985.35.
Disposition and any continuing obligations
If the court finds that the child committed a delinquent act, disposition addresses the consequences and services. Depending on the case, those may include probation, treatment, restitution, community-based requirements, or commitment. We examine the proposed conditions alongside the child's educational and treatment needs and the family's ability to carry them out. Florida Statutes § 985.433.

Police questioning and the child's rights

Statements made at school, at home, or at a police station can become evidence. When reviewing an interview, we examine whether the child was in custody, what warnings were given, the child's understanding, the circumstances of questioning, and whether any statement was voluntary. The presence or absence of a parent is part of that review.

If officers request an interview, obtain legal advice before deciding how to respond. Florida law provides a right to counsel in delinquency court proceedings. A parent should not assume that explaining the incident informally will resolve the case. Florida Statutes § 985.033.

School records, messages, and other evidence

Juvenile cases may involve school video, discipline records, group chats, social media, photographs, device searches, and witness accounts. We examine the full context, who controlled an account or device, and how evidence was obtained.

School discipline can proceed separately from the delinquency case. Tell us about any suspension notice, meeting, or school deadline. Preserve relevant records and ask counsel how to obtain material you do not have; do not ask a child or witness to delete messages or change an account of events.

First offenses and possible diversion

A first allegation does not guarantee diversion. Florida law provides for prearrest delinquency citation programs and permits postarrest diversion programs. Eligibility and requirements depend on the program, alleged offense, history, and local policies. Florida Statutes §§ 985.12 and 985.125.

Diversion gives an eligible young person an opportunity to complete specified requirements as an alternative to ordinary court prosecution. Requirements may include community service, classes, counseling, or restitution. We review the terms, deadlines, consequences of noncompletion, and any separate record-relief steps before advising on an offer.

The applicable juvenile program must be checked in the county handling the case. The firm's adult PTI guides should not be used to determine a child's eligibility.

When adult-court prosecution is a concern

Some juvenile allegations can be prosecuted in adult court through procedures authorized by Florida law. Age at the time of the alleged offense, the charge, and prior history can matter. For example, section 985.557 addresses a prosecutor's authority to file certain cases directly in adult court. Florida Statutes § 985.557.

If adult prosecution is being considered, we assess that issue alongside the defense evidence and the child's circumstances. Our felony defense page explains related services when a case proceeds in adult court.

Juvenile records and future concerns

A juvenile record is not necessarily private simply because the person is under 18. Florida law allows disclosure of specified juvenile records, including certain felony-related information. Florida Statutes § 985.04.

Do not assume that every record disappears on a child's eighteenth birthday. Retention, automatic expunction, and other forms of relief have separate requirements and exceptions. We review the actual record and outcome before discussing eligibility. Learn about the firm's expungement and record-sealing services. Florida Statutes § 943.0515.

Your criminal defense attorneys

Nicole N. Sanchez and Tyler K. Vaughn handle criminal defense matters for Sanchez Vaughn, Trial Lawyers. Our juvenile defense work considers the allegation, the child's rights, and the practical issues facing the family.

Nicole N. Sanchez

Nicole is a former lead felony prosecutor and is Board Certified in Criminal Trial Law by The Florida Bar.

Meet Nicole N. Sanchez

Tyler K. Vaughn

Tyler represents clients in criminal defense matters and helps families understand the issues and next steps in a request for juvenile representation.

Meet Tyler K. Vaughn

Questions parents often ask

Can my child be released before the case ends?

Release depends on the governing detention criteria and the court's decision. Bring the custody paperwork and any release order so counsel can assess the specific situation. We cannot promise release or a particular hearing result.

Does being assigned a juvenile probation officer mean my child has been found guilty?

No. DJJ assigns juvenile probation officers to youth referred to the department for intake and case management. Assignment alone does not mean the child has been placed on court-ordered probation. Florida DJJ's explanation.

Does a first offense guarantee diversion or a clean record?

No. Program eligibility, successful completion, and the rules governing the resulting record are separate questions. Ask counsel to review all three before relying on a proposed diversion outcome.

Can I request a consultation before I have every document?

Yes. Start with the child's age, county, custody status, any upcoming date, and the paperwork you already have. We can discuss what additional information is needed.

Request a juvenile defense consultation

Tell us the county, whether your child is in custody, and the next court date or requested interview. Nicole N. Sanchez and Tyler K. Vaughn can review the request and discuss whether the firm can assist.