ARRESTED? INVESTIGATED?
ARRESTADO? INVESTIGADO?
The first 24 hours can matter.
Florida law requires a detention hearing within 24 hours of a child being taken into custody. A judge decides that day whether your child comes home with you or stays in detention. Call us before that hearing.
Answered around the clock. Free and confidential. English or Spanish.
Every hour matters before that first hearing. Call now and talk to Albert Quirantes Esq., who has been handling juvenile cases in Miami since 1987. Free, confidential, English or Spanish.
Represented since 1987
English and Spanish
The first 24 hours can matter.
When a child is arrested in Miami-Dade, the juvenile process can move quickly. If the child is placed in detention care, Florida law generally requires a detention hearing within 24 hours, where the court decides whether the child should remain detained or be released under appropriate conditions.
Early legal representation gives your family someone focused on protecting your child’s rights, preparing for the detention hearing, and understanding the options available from the start.
Albert Quirantes, Esq. represents children and families facing juvenile criminal matters throughout Miami-Dade County.
Call us now at (305) 644-1800 for a FREE STRATEGY SESSION
Right now your child is in custody and you are being told very little. Here is what Florida law actually says happens next.
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According to Florida Statute §985.255, when a minor is taken into custody and held in detention, they must have a hearing within 24 hours.
Unlike an adult, a minor is generally not released simply by posting bail. Instead, a judge reviews the case and decides whether they should remain in custody and under what level of supervision.
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Depending on the case, the court may order secure detention, non-secure detention, or house arrest, based on factors established by law and a risk assessment.
In some cases, the minor may be released to their parent or guardian. In others, they may have to remain under certain conditions while the case proceeds.
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Bringing documents such as school enrollment, employment, sports activities, community involvement, volunteering, or other responsibilities can help demonstrate to the court that adequate structure and supervision exist outside of detention.
It is also important that a parent or guardian be prepared to take responsibility for the child and comply with the conditions set by the court.
Sometimes, yes. Diversion can give a juvenile an alternative to formal prosecution when the case and the child meet the program requirements.
In Miami-Dade, the State Attorney’s Office may offer diversion in certain cases, including some first- or second-time non-violent offenses. The child must still meet the program’s requirements, and not every case will qualify.
The details matter. A child’s age, prior history, the allegations, and the specific diversion program can all affect eligibility. An attorney can review those factors with the family and explain whether diversion is worth pursuing.
A juvenile case doesn’t always end with the next court date. There may be more to consider.
Depending on the circumstances, the case could involve detention, probation, school-related issues, treatment requirements, restitution, or questions about the child’s record. In some situations, families may also need to consider the possibility of adult prosecution.
Every case is different. Our job is to look at the whole picture, the allegations, the child’s history, the circumstances behind the case, and what a particular outcome could mean down the road.
The goal is not simply to get through one hearing. It’s to pursue the best available resolution for the child and family.
If your child has been taken into custody, the detention hearing is the first and most urgent step. It usually happens within 24 hours, and it decides whether your child comes home.
Few moments are more stressful for a parent than waiting for a detention hearing. Knowing what to expect helps you stay steady and make good decisions. We focus on criminal juvenile defense, and being present and prepared at this hearing is one of the most important things we do for families.
When a child is taken into custody in Miami-Dade, they are generally not released on a money bond the way adults often are. Instead, the law requires a detention hearing, usually within 24 hours. At this hearing, a judge decides what happens to your child while the case moves forward.
Experience on Both Sides of the Courtroom
Our trial team brings experience from both sides of the criminal justice system.
Stephen Millan, Esq. served as a Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge from 2015 to 2018 and previously worked as an Assistant State Attorney. Arthur Spiegel, Esq. is a former Assistant State Attorney and Assistant Public Defender with more than 40 years of legal experience.
We know how cases are built. We have been on the other side of the table and in the courtroom before.
Our office is located at 1815 NW 7th Street, about a mile and a half from the Miami-Dade Children’s Courthouse at 155 NW 3rd Street.
It’s close by. And our team regularly works in the courthouse when clients need us there.
You don’t have to wait until morning to reach someone.
Our phones are covered around the clock, with help available in English and Spanish.
Arrests don’t happen on a 9-to-5 schedule.
Neither do we. Text or Call: 305-644-1800
Albert Quirantes has practiced criminal defense in Miami for more than 35 years and has represented more than 8,000 clients.
He has handled thousands of bench and jury trials and regularly appears as a legal commentator on local television and radio.
Experience matters. So does knowing Miami’s courtrooms.
There is a period after an arrest and before the State Attorney decides what to file. Most families do not know it exists. It is where the best outcomes in juvenile cases are made.
In that window a defense lawyer can put your child’s school record, family situation, and circumstances in front of the prosecutor before a charging decision is locked in. That is how cases get diverted, reduced, or never filed at all.
Families who wait until the first court date usually find the decision was already made without them.
If the charge your child is facing is not on this list, call anyway. We handle the full range of juvenile delinquency cases in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach.
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Not their side, not the context, nothing. Statements made without a lawyer, including innocent ones, get used to build the case.
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The pre-filing window is where the leverage is, and it closes quickly.
This early hearing sets the tone for everything that follows. An attorney can:
The difference between a child going home and a child being detained can come down to who is standing next to them at this hearing.
Not necessarily. But what happens in the first few days can matter enormously.
Miami-Dade County has a Juvenile Prearrest Delinquency Citation Program that can give eligible young people a chance to avoid a criminal record altogether. If a child successfully completes the program, Miami-Dade says there is no criminal record, no court record, no court fees, and no court appearance.
But there is a catch: not every child qualifies.
The program generally applies to children 17 or younger who are accused of a qualifying misdemeanor and have no prior criminal history. Certain offenses including firearm-related offenses, specified sexual offenses, and gang-related activity, are excluded, and the case requires State Attorney approval.
That makes the timing important.
Don’t assume an arrest means you have to wait for court. There may be options that are easier to pursue before the case moves further into the juvenile court system.
And once important decisions have been made, your family’s options may become more limited.
Call a juvenile defense lawyer as soon as possible. An attorney can look at the arrest, the alleged offense, your child’s history, and the circumstances of the case and determine whether diversion or another resolution may be available.
Yes. And you should find out before that decision is made.
Florida law allows certain juvenile cases to be prosecuted in adult court. The rules depend on your child’s age, the alleged offense, prior history, and other circumstances.
There are three ways a juvenile case can move into adult court.
Direct File. The State Attorney can file certain qualifying cases directly in adult court under Florida Statute § 985.557, without first getting a judge’s approval.
Indictment. For certain extremely serious offenses, a grand jury can indict a child under Florida Statute § 985.56.
Waiver. In other cases, the State can ask a judge to transfer the case to adult court. The judge then considers the statutory factors at a hearing under Florida Statute § 985.556.
Adult court is a very different road. If your child has been arrested for a serious offense, don’t wait until the first court date to find out whether an adult prosecution is possible.
Call a juvenile defense lawyer now. The sooner you understand what you’re facing, the sooner you can act.
This is where many parents make a costly mistake.
They wait.
They think, “We’ll talk to a lawyer when we get the court date.”
But the court date isn’t necessarily the beginning of the case. Depending on the circumstances, important decisions may already be taking shape before your family ever enters a courtroom.
Your child’s age matters.
The alleged offense matters.
Prior history matters.
The facts surrounding the arrest matter.
And timing matters.
A juvenile defense lawyer can review the situation early, identify potential diversion or other options, and determine what steps should be taken before the case moves further.
If your child has been arrested, don’t wait to see what happens.
Call now. Get the case reviewed. Know your options before the next decision is made.
When a child is facing a juvenile case, early legal guidance matters. Albert Quirantes, Esq. can review the allegations, detention, evidence, diversion options, and potential defenses while keeping your child’s future in mind.
With 35+ years of experience and more than 8,000 clients served, Albert provides juvenile defense representation in English and Spanish.
Call or text 305-644-1800 for a free consultation.
Very quickly. If a child is placed in detention care, Florida law generally requires a detention hearing within 24 hours. Early legal preparation can help your attorney address the circumstances of the arrest and advocate for release.
Juvenile cases generally do not use the traditional adult cash-bond system. At the detention hearing, a judge decides whether the child should be released to a parent, placed under supervision, or held in secure detention.
It depends on the type of detention, the charges, and the circumstances of the case. Florida law sets specific limits, including a general 21-day limit for certain secure detention orders, with statutory exceptions.
It depends on how the case is handled and resolved. Diversion, dismissal, sealing, and expunction can have different effects on a child’s record.
Every child accused of delinquency has the right to counsel. Hiring private counsel is your family’s choice and may allow an attorney to begin investigating, preparing for hearings, and exploring defense or diversion options early.
A lawyer can investigate the allegations, preserve evidence, gather helpful information, and communicate with the prosecutor when appropriate. Early representation may create an opportunity to pursue no charges, reduced charges, diversion, or another resolution.
Possibly. Eligibility depends on the child’s age, history, charges, and the requirements of the specific program. Miami-Dade offers diversion programs as alternatives to formal court involvement for qualifying cases.
Yes. A juvenile case can have consequences beyond court, including school, educational, and other future opportunities. An attorney can consider these issues while developing the defense and resolution strategy.
We will discuss what happened, whether your child is detained, upcoming hearings, potential charges, and available evidence. You can learn how Albert Quirantes, Esq. may help and understand the expected legal fees.
Yes. The firm represents out-of-state and international families whose children face juvenile cases in Miami or South Florida. Your attorney can help explain court requirements, hearings, and whether travel may be necessary.
The fee depends on the charges, detention status, complexity of the case, and anticipated legal work. Albert Quirantes, Esq. provides fee information after reviewing the case, and the initial juvenile case evaluation is free.
Every hour matters before that first hearing. Call now and talk to Albert Quirantes Esq., who has been handling juvenile cases in Miami since 1987. Free, confidential, English or Spanish.