ANNE ARUNDEL, CALVERT, CHARLES, ST. MARY’S & PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTIES.
Serious Charges & Adult Transfer Defense | Haskell & Dyer
When the State Tries to Charge Your Child as an Adult, Everything Changes.
For serious felonies, the State may seek to move a child's case into adult court. This is the highest-stakes situation in juvenile law, with an adult record and adult prison on the line. We fight hard to keep the case in the juvenile system.
Why This Is the Highest Stakes
Adult court strips away everything the juvenile system offers.
The juvenile system is built to rehabilitate. Adult court is built to punish. If a child's case is moved to adult court, the focus on treatment and a clean future is replaced by an adult conviction and adult prison exposure. Keeping the case in juvenile court is often the single most important fight there is.
The Core Difference
Juvenile Court vs. Adult Court
The same child, the same charge, but two completely different futures depending on which system hears the case.
What We Fight For
Staying in Juvenile Court
The juvenile system focuses on rehabilitation, with confidential records, treatment, and a path back to a normal life. Keeping the case here protects your child's future in a way adult court never can.
What We Fight Against
Transfer to Adult Court
Adult court means a public adult record, far harsher sentencing, and the possibility of adult prison. The protections built into the juvenile system fall away entirely.
The Waiver Hearing
What the Court Weighs in a Transfer
Whether a case stays in juvenile court often turns on a transfer or waiver hearing. The court weighs factors we build our case around.
Your Child's Age
How old your child is can shape whether the case belongs in the juvenile system, and we make that case strongly.
The Nature of the Charge
We press on what actually happened versus how the charge is framed, since the allegation drives the transfer push.
Amenability to Treatment
We show your child can be helped within the juvenile system, which is central to keeping the case there.
Background & History
We present the full picture of your child, their record, their circumstances, and their capacity to change.
What's at Stake
An Adult Case Changes a Child's Whole Life
The difference between the two systems is the difference between a future and a record.
Adult Prison
Exposure to adult sentencing, not juvenile programs
Public Record
An adult record instead of a confidential one
Rights
The civil-rights losses that follow a felony
Future
Lasting damage to every door that opens later
How We Fight to Keep the Case in Juvenile Court
This is the most important battle in juvenile law, and we treat it that way from the first day.
We Fight the Transfer
At the waiver hearing, we make the full case for why your child belongs in the juvenile system, not adult court.
We Build the Whole Picture
We bring in your child's background, capacity for treatment, and circumstances, not just the charge on the paper.
We Attack the Charge
We challenge the evidence and the severity behind the allegation that the State is using to justify transfer.
We Move Early
Transfer fights are won with preparation. The sooner we start, the stronger the case to keep your child where they belong.
Common Questions
Serious Charges & Adult Transfer, Answered
Can my child really be charged as an adult?
For certain serious felonies, yes, Maryland allows a child's case to be moved into adult court. It is not automatic in every case, and there is often a hearing where we fight to keep the case in the juvenile system. This is the most important battle in these matters.
What is a waiver or transfer hearing?
It is the hearing where the court decides whether a case stays in juvenile court or moves to adult court. The court weighs factors like your child's age, the charge, their background, and whether they can be helped in the juvenile system. We build our case around those factors.
Why does it matter so much which court hears the case?
Because the systems are worlds apart. Juvenile court focuses on rehabilitation, with confidential records and treatment. Adult court means a public record, harsher sentencing, and possible adult prison. Keeping the case in juvenile court can protect your child's entire future.
Can a case be moved back to juvenile court once it's in adult court?
In some situations there are paths to have a case returned to the juvenile system, depending on the charge and circumstances. It is a difficult fight, which is why getting involved early, before transfer, gives your child the best chance.
What's the most important thing to do right now?
Call a lawyer immediately and make sure your child says nothing to police without one. These cases move fast and the transfer fight is won with early preparation. The sooner we start building the case to keep your child in juvenile court, the better.
Is the State Trying to Charge Your Child as an Adult? Call Now.
This is the highest-stakes fight in juvenile law, and it is won with early, aggressive preparation. Tell us what happened and get an honest read on how we fight to keep the case in juvenile court. The first conversation is free.
Need us after hours? Call our 24/7 line: 240-687-0179
The Law Offices of Haskell & Dyer, LLC Practicing Law in Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, St. Mary’s, and Prince George’s Counties.
The Law Offices of Haskell & Dyer, LLC Practicing Law in Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, St. Mary’s, and Prince George’s Counties.
The Law Offices of Haskell & Dyer, LLC
Fax: 301-627-5848
Follow us:
The information provided on this website, in our blog posts, social media content, videos, or other marketing materials by The Law Offices of Haskell & Dyer, LLC is for general informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice or establish an attorney-client relationship. While we strive to provide accurate and current information, legal matters are often complex and fact-specific. You should not act or rely on any information contained herein without seeking professional legal counsel directly from a licensed attorney. Contacting our firm does not create an attorney-client relationship until a formal agreement is signed. For legal advice specific to your situation, please get in touch with our office directly.