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5000 Legacy Drive, Suite 395 | Plano, Texas 75024

Plano Juvenile Criminal Defense Lawyer

Helping to keep children's criminal records clean since 1995

Part of growing up is learning from your mistakes. Unfortunately, some children make mistakes that have criminal consequences. If your child has been charged with a crime, it is important to hire an experienced juvenile criminal defense lawyer. A conviction on your child's criminal record can prevent him or her from getting into college, getting a good job or getting their driver license. I can help you make sure your child can enjoy these opportunities without having their mistakes holding them back.

My name is Mac Morris, and I am a Plano juvenile criminal attorney handling cases for clients throughout Texas state courts for more than 16 years. My goal when handling these cases is to eliminate all charges against your child without having to go to court. However, there are times where the district attorney refuses to dismiss the charges. If this occurs, I do my best to get the charges against your child eliminated at adjudicatory hearings or at trial if charged as an adult.

There are several additional ways to avoid having a conviction permanently entered on your child's record, including probation and, where applicable, pre-trial diversion programs.  You can put your trust in me to protect your child's rights and secure the best possible results in your case.

The Texas juvenile justice process

There are many steps involved in the juvenile justice process.  Depending on your child's age and the nature of the crime, he or she may be tried as a juvenile or as an adult. Regardless of which court your child's case is argued in front of, I can help you protect your child's future.

The juvenile justice process involves:

  • Arrest and booking. If your child is arrested, he or she will likely be taken into custody and taken to the juvenile detention facility for booking. Booking involves entering your child's name, photo and fingerprints into their records, along with the reason for their arrest.
  • Police questioning. Any statements made to law enforcement personnel during questioning can be held against your child. Your child has the right to tell police he or she doesn't wish to speak with them.  As a parent, you may also tell the police your child does not want to talk until you can find a juvenile crimes attorney to represent your child during questioning.
  • Police custody and detention. After being arrested, your child may be released into your custody pending a hearing, or detained in a juvenile facility for a short period of time. Federal regulations prohibit holding juveniles in adult jail settings for longer than six hours and mandate that they must be kept isolated from adult inmates. Your child also cannot be held very long in a juvenile detention facility without a detention hearing.  The judge will review your child's case and decide whether your child should continue in juvenile detention.
  • Intake. The prosecutor's office will decide whether to dismiss the charges, divert the case or request formal intervention by the juvenile court. At this stage, I do my best to eliminate your child's charges or seek admission into the pre-trial diversion program on their behalf.

If the case has been dismissed:

  • Consent decree.  If the judge decides to dismiss the case, your child may have to agree to conditions such as curfews, victim restitution and counseling in a document called a consent decree. Your child will have to admit to doing the offending act in order to be eligible for a consent decree disposition. After signing the decree, your child will then likely be monitored for a period of time by a probation officer.

If the case has been diverted:

  • Pre-trial diversion program. If you live in Collin County, the judge may decide that your child is qualified to enter its pre-trial diversion program.

If the charges hold up:

  • Fitness hearing. Depending on your child's age and the nature of the crime, a fitness hearing may be called to determine whether your child should be tried as a juvenile in an adjudicatory hearing or as an adult in criminal court.

Adjudicatory hearings

An adjudicatory hearing is a juvenile trial at which I argue your child's case in front of a judge. I have more than 16 years of experience trying cases in juvenile, state and federal court, and you can feel confident that can secure a dismissal of the charges or probation for your child.

Juvenile probation

If your child is placed on probation, the judge will impose a set of rules and restrictions that the child must follow for a period of time. A probation officer will be assigned by the court to monitor your child's progress and report any probation violations to the judge. After your child has successfully completed all the requirements of probation, the judge can dismiss the case. For more information about probation, visit my Probation page.

An experienced Plano juvenile criminal defense attorney on your side

Call The Law Office of Mac Morris today at (972) 673-0083 or contact me online to schedule your free initial consultation. I am an experienced criminal defense lawyer in Plano who represents clients throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex Area, including Irving, Arlington, and towns throughout Collin County. Reasonable payment plans are available and most credit cards are accepted for services.