In Georgia, minors under 17 are tried in juvenile court, but serious cases can be transferred to adult court. Quick action matters—an attorney can fight to keep your child in juvenile court and focus on rehabilitation instead of punishment.
Your 16-year-old just called from the police station. The officer said they’d “work it out” and that juvenile charges “aren’t that serious.”
That same officer probably didn’t mention that Georgia sends more kids to adult court than almost any other state. Your child could face the same penalties as an adult who committed the same crime.
At J. Ryan Brown Law, we know that juvenile cases require immediate action and aggressive defense—because your child’s entire future hangs in the balance.
Georgia handles minors under 17 through its juvenile court system under O.C.G.A. § 15-11-1, but don’t mistake this for leniency. Serious consequences can still come in juvenile court. And, in some instances, the case can be transferred to adult court.
In other words, the state expects accountability from children the same way it demands it from adults. These proceedings determine whether children get treatment and supervision—or face transfer to adult court with life-altering consequences.
Georgia has specific offenses that automatically send children ages 13-16 straight to adult court. These are called the “seven deadly sins” under Georgia law:
When prosecutors charge a juvenile with any of these offenses, the case bypasses juvenile court entirely. The child faces the same sentences as adults, including life in prison.
We oftentimes can challenge these transfers through O.C.G.A. § 15-11-561.
Most juvenile cases involve charges that would be misdemeanors or low-level felonies for adults. But children face unique consequences that extend far beyond court proceedings.
School Fighting and Threat
Many juvenile cases stem from school fights or threats. School fights are typically charged as battery or simple battery and can be handled in juvenile court.
Threats against the school are typically classified as terroristic threat cases. Given the danger present in many schools these days, prosecutors take these offenses very seriously.
Sexual Offenses
We have handled many sexual offenses in both adult and juvenile courts. Sexual offenses in Superior Court often carry immense penalties, some including a minimum 25-year sentence.
In these cases, being in juvenile court is a great thing because we can focus on rehabilitation and not punishment.
Sometimes we have to fight for the juvenile court, though. Prosecutors may seek to begin the case in a Superior Court where the penalties are exceptionally harsh. We can request the Superior Court ot transfer a case to juvenile court when the situation allows it.
When law enforcement takes a child into custody, officers must choose between releasing them to parents, taking them to a hospital, or contacting a juvenile intake officer under O.C.G.A. § 15-11-502.
Initial Assessment:
The intake officer uses specific criteria to decide whether your child goes home or gets locked up. This isn’t just about the current charge.
Formal Court Process:
This timeline makes immediate legal representation crucial. The adjudication phase determines everything.
Many parents don’t realize that juveniles have the same constitutional protections as adults in criminal proceedings. The landmark U.S. Supreme Court case In re Gault established these fundamental rights for children facing delinquency charges:
Courts consider whether a child truly waived their rights knowingly and voluntarily, taking into account the juvenile’s age, education level, and comprehension abilities.
Many confession cases get thrown out because officers failed to properly explain rights to children or continued questioning after kids asked for parents.
Bibb County
Carroll County
Coweta County
Fulton County
Glynn County
Spalding County
Immediate Consequences:
We’ve handled juvenile cases throughout Georgia, from first-time offenses to serious felony charges. Our approach recognizes that juvenile cases require different strategies than adult criminal defense.
Our Immediate Response:
Family-Centered Approach:
Children aren’t merely small adults. They need advocates who recognize their developmental differences and focus on their potential for change and rehabilitation.
Based in Newnan, we represent juvenile clients throughout:
Whether your child faces charges in juvenile court or adult court, we’re here to fight for their future with the urgency these cases demand.
Local Knowledge
We know the juvenile courts, the intake officers, and the procedures in Coweta County and the surrounding areas. That insight helps us move faster to protect your child’s rights and avoid unnecessary detention.
Different Strategy for Different Stakes
Juvenile cases aren’t just smaller versions of adult cases. We understand the unique challenges children face in the justice system and tailor our defense accordingly.
Family-First Advocacy
We don’t just represent your child—we support your entire family through this crisis. You’ll always know what’s happening and why.
Parents who wait to get help often discover their options have disappeared. Bond hearings happen quickly, plea deadlines pass, and detention time accumulates while families search for representation.
Call our juvenile law attorneys in Newnan now. At J. Ryan Brown Law, we treat juvenile cases with the urgency they deserve.
We’re fighting for a childhood, a future, and a family.
