Juvenile Defense Lawyer in Miami
When your child is arrested or accused of a crime, having an experienced juvenile defense lawyer on your side can make an important difference. Albert Quirantes, Esq. has over 35 years of criminal defense experience and represents juveniles and their families throughout Miami-Dade County. Contacting Albert Quirantes early can give your family critical guidance from the initial arrest and detention through hearings, negotiations, and resolution of the case.
Child Arrested in Miami?
Your First 24 Hours Matter Most!
Don't Wait!
The Clock Started When They Took Your Child In
Every hour matters before that first hearing. Call now to speak with Albert Quirantes, Esq., who has handled juvenile cases in Miami since 1987. Free, confidential, English or Spanish.
Experienced Miami Juvenile defense attorney Albert Quirantes, Esq.
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
35+ Years
8,000+ Clients
Represented since 1987
1,400+
4.9-Star Rating on Google
Bilingual
English and Spanish, every call
Your Child Was Arrested in Miami. The Hearing Is Within 24 Hours.
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. What you do before that hearing is what changes the answer. Call us at (305) 644-1800 before that hearing.
What Happens at a Juvenile Detention Hearing in Miami
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 defending juveniles accused of crimes, and being present and prepared at this hearing is one of the most important things we do for families.
What Is a Detention Hearing?
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.
What Happens Between Now and Tomorrow
Right now your child is in custody and you are being told very little. Here is what Florida law actually says happens next.
1
The detention hearing, within 24 hours
Under Florida Statute 985.255, a child taken into custody must be given a hearing within 24 hours. Children are generally not released on a money bond the way adults often are. A judge decides instead.
2
The judge chooses one of three outcomes
3
What you bring to the hearing can matter
If Your Child Is Being Held, Get Legal Advice Immediately.
What Can the Judge Decide?
At the detention hearing, the judge generally chooses among options such as:
- Release to a parent or guardian. Your child comes home with you while the case proceeds.
- Home detention. Your child stays home under supervision and conditions.
- Secure detention. Your child is held in a juvenile detention facility.
The judge weighs factors like the seriousness of the charge, your child’s history, and whether there is a risk of not returning to court.
Where Do These Hearings Happen?
Miami-Dade juvenile cases are handled at the Children’s Courthouse at 155 NW 3rd Street in Miami. Our office is located nearby, which means we are present and familiar with the court where your child’s case will be heard.
Why Having an Attorney at the Hearing Matters
This early hearing sets the tone for everything that follows. An attorney can:
- Argue for your child’s release rather than detention
- Present your family’s stability, your child’s school enrollment, and community ties
- Propose conditions that address the court’s concerns while keeping your child home
- Begin protecting your child’s rights from the very first appearance
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.
The Most Important Window Closes Before You See a Courtroom
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 find the decision was already made without them.
Juvenile Charges We Defend in Miami-Dade
Battery and school fights
Burglary
Theft and retail theft
Failure to appear
Marijuana and drug possession
Drug sale or distribution
Robbery
Trespassing
Weapons and firearm charges
Violation of probation
Resisting an officer
Criminal mischief and vandalism
Underage alcohol and fake ID
Sexting and phone offenses
Sexual offenses
Cyber and social media offenses
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.
Five Things to Do Before You Do Anything Else as a Parent
1
Do Not Encourage Your Child to Explain the Case to Police Without a Lawyer.
Not their side, not the context, nothing. Statements made without a lawyer, including innocent ones, get used to build the case.
2
Make Sure Your Child Knows These Two Sentences.
3
Say nothing online.
4
Gather Evidence of Your Child's School, Family, and Community Ties.
5
Call Albert Quirantes, Esq. TODAY, not on the court date.
The pre-filing window is where the leverage is, and it closes quickly.
Why hire Albert Quirantes, Esq. and his team for a Miami juvenile case?
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
Questions Miami Parents Ask
Do you have PAYMENT PLANS and OPTIONS at your office?
How much does it cost to hire a juvenile defense attorney in Miami?
How much money does it cost to see a juvenile defense lawyer immediately?
How quickly does a juvenile detention hearing happen in Florida?
Can I bail my child out of juvenile detention in Miami?
How long can my child remain in juvenile detention in Florida?
Will my child have a criminal record after a juvenile arrest?
It depends on how the case is handled and resolved. Diversion, dismissal, sealing, and expunction can have different effects on a child’s record.
Does my child need a private juvenile defense lawyer if a public defender is available?
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.
What can a private juvenile defense lawyer do before charges are filed?
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.
Can a private lawyer help my child qualify for juvenile diversion?
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.
Can a juvenile defense lawyer help protect my child's school and future?
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.
What happens during a free juvenile defense consultation?
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.
We don't live in Miami. Can your juvenile defense law firm still help?
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.
How much does it cost to hire a juvenile defense lawyer in Miami?
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.
The Clock Started When They Took Your Child In
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.
Albert Quirantes, Esq. Criminal DUI & Ticket Lawyers
1815 NW 7th Street, Miami, FL 33125
© 2026 “Albert Quirantes, Esq. Criminal DUI & Ticket Lawyers”, a law firm, 1815 N.W. 7th Street, Miami, FL 33125
This page is for general educational purposes only and is not legal advice. Contacting us through this website, email, text, or chat does not create an attorney-client relationship. Representation begins only after a written agreement is signed and the required fee is paid. Every case is different and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.