Juvenile Crime Attorney In Hamilton County: Relentless Defense For Clients Across Central Indiana
Last updated on August 28, 2026
Being the parent of a child charged with a juvenile crime can be a terrifying experience. For the child accused or charged with the crime, it can mean years of their life lost and potentially their future prospects ruined. Without a strong legal defense, it can be tough to recover from these types of situations.
If you live in central Indiana and have a child accused of a juvenile crime, then you need Shircliff Law LLC on your side, the local law firm you can trust when it comes to criminal defense.
I’m attorney David Shircliff, and I have been handling criminal defense cases and getting positive results for over 30 years. That includes reducing the penalties and getting acquittals granted in juvenile cases as well. I have a passion for criminal defense and for making sure that people are treated fairly by the legal system.
New clients get a free consultation. Call 317-516-6487 to discuss the facts of your case and develop a defense strategy that will hopefully help your child avoid harsh penalties and get back to enjoying life.
How Do Juvenile Crime Charges Work In Indiana?
When your child is charged with a crime as a juvenile, they are placed into the juvenile court system and typically sent to a juvenile detention center to await a hearing. It’s important to have a legal team on your side when this happens, as a judge will hear from all sides regarding the charges the juvenile is facing.
Indiana allows for crimes to stay classified as juvenile crimes or be moved up to the adult court for all crimes except misdemeanor traffic violations and OWI charges. This means that, depending on the nature of the crime and the factors involved, a juvenile charge can be upgraded, at the discretion of the judge, to an adult charge, where the child will face adult penalties.
During the hearing phase, a judge hears from the prosecution, the arresting officer, and the defense in order to make the determination of whether to keep the case in juvenile court or move it to adult court. Having a strong defense is crucial to making sure that a juvenile crime does not end up with harsher than necessary penalties.
In most cases, the history of the juvenile will be examined as well as history of prior offenses, the motive for the crime, and whether or not there was malice or intent when the crime was committed.