Your kid made a mistake. It shouldn’t define their life.
Almost no private attorney in this area takes juvenile cases. Mason Barnes takes all of them, from school incidents to serious felonies, in both counties.
The juvenile system is different. So are the opportunities.
Juvenile court runs on different rules, different vocabulary, and different possibilities than adult court. Handled well, many juvenile cases can end in diversion, dismissal, or outcomes that protect a young person’s record, their college applications, and their future. Handled badly, a childhood mistake can leak into adulthood.
Most parents calling us have never dealt with an arrest before. That’s normal here: most of our clients have a parent or family member making the call and paying the fee. You will get a plain-English explanation of exactly what is happening and what happens next.
One thing to know now: do not let your child give a statement before you’ve talked to a lawyer. The consultation is free, any hour.
A young mistake should not define a life. That’s the whole point of this practice. Mason Barnes
All juvenile charges, both counties
- School fights & battery
- Theft & shoplifting
- Drug possession
- Vandalism & criminal mischief
- Underage drinking & DUI
- Burglary & trespass
- Weapons on campus
- Serious felony charges
What parents ask us first
Not necessarily, and this is exactly why early representation matters. Juvenile records work differently than adult records, and diversion or dismissal can keep options open for sealing and expungement later. The path depends on the charge and how the case is handled from the start.
For serious felonies, Florida prosecutors can move a case to adult court. Fighting that transfer, or getting ahead of it, is one of the most important things a defense lawyer does in a serious juvenile case. If that word has come up, call today.
Not before you talk to a lawyer. Statements to school officials and resource officers regularly end up in criminal cases. Politely decline, then call us. The consultation is free and we’ll tell you exactly how to handle it.
Juvenile defense in Pensacola and across both counties
Juvenile cases in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties run through their own division, with their own judges, prosecutors, and vocabulary. Mason Barnes practices there regularly, which almost no private attorney in this area can say, and it changes what is possible: civil citations, diversion, and outcomes that keep a young record clean.
Whether the arrest happened at a school in Pace, a traffic stop in Navarre, or a beach night gone wrong on Pensacola Beach, the first days decide the most. Do not let your child give a statement before you call.
We defend clients from every corner of both counties:
- Pensacola
- Milton
- Pace
- Gulf Breeze
- Navarre
- Cantonment
- Perdido Key
- Ferry Pass
- Ensley
- Jay
It’s midnight and your kid is in trouble. Call anyway.
This phone gets answered, nights and weekends included.