Legal Question in Juvenile Dependency in Florida

When a person, regardless if she is an adult or juvenile, is charged with other people for a criminal event it is under the theory of co-defendants, or co-conspirators. This happens when there is an allegation that the parties, to some degree, acted in concert or in furtherance of the commission of a crime. Common examples include the get-away driver, the person who supplied the burglary tools, and/or the person came with and started the plan.

The State Attorney's Office has the burden of proving the crime "Beyond a Reasonable Doubt" to the trier of fact, or judge as is the case in juvenile delinquency court.

The best starting point for any case is to get hold of the "Petition" and "discovery" or any information the State regarding the facts of the case. Discovery can include police reports, witness statements, recordings, photos and statements by co-defendants. A Petition is the document filed by the State which specifies what the criminal charges are against the child.

You can get this information with a photo ID from the Clerk of Court-Delinquency, often there will be cost for copies. Alternatively, an attorney can get hold of this and evaluate the case.