The Criminal Defense Law Center of
West Michigan
When your child is arrested, the clock doesn’t just start ticking—it starts racing against their future. In 2026, Michigan’s juvenile justice system is focused on rehabilitation, but one wrong move by an inexperienced lawyer can still lead to your child being tried as an adult.
You must hire the best West Michigan attorney around Shawn Haff right away. At the Criminal Defense Law Center of West Michigan, we move with professional urgency to shield your child from the adult criminal justice system and ensure that a childhood mistake doesn’t become a lifetime sentence.
For decades, Michigan was one of the few states that automatically prosecuted 17-year-olds as adults. That changed with the “Raise the Age” legislation. Today, most individuals under 18 are handled in the Family Division of the Circuit Court.
However, the 2026 legal landscape in Kent County is still a minefield:
Juvenile Delinquency: Your child isn’t “convicted”; they are “adjudicated.” The goal is meant to be treatment, but the “disposition” (sentencing) can still include secure detention in a juvenile facility.
The “Automatic Waiver” Danger: For serious crimes like Criminal Sexual Conduct or armed robbery, a 14, 15, or 16-year-old can still be “waived” into adult court. Once they enter the adult system, they face permanent felony records and adult prison.
Non-Criminal Status Offenses: We also defend against “Status Offenses” like truancy, running away, and curfew violations that can lead to court-ordered supervision.
We don’t just “go through the motions.” We utilize a sophisticated, multi-layered defense strategy tailored for the 2026 juvenile court system.
Juveniles are far more likely to give false confessions or be intimidated by the Grand Rapids Police. In 2026, we scrutinize every second of the police interaction. Did the officers follow the Juvenile Diversion Act? Did they allow the child to consult with a parent? If your child’s rights were violated during the “Preliminary Inquiry,” we move to suppress all statements immediately.
Science shows that the teenage brain is not fully developed until the mid-20s. We work with experts to present the “Maturity Defense,” arguing that the child lacked the specific intent required for the crime. We emphasize “Cognitive Immaturity” to keep the case focused on rehabilitation rather than punishment.
For many first-time offenders in Kent County, our primary goal is the Consent Calendar (MCL 712A.2f).
How it Works: The case is handled informally. If the juvenile completes certain requirements—like counseling or community service—the case is dismissed.
The Benefit: There is no “adjudication of guilt,” meaning your child’s record stays completely clean. We move with professional urgency to negotiate these “diversion” agreements before the prosecutor files a formal petition.
Shawn Haff is the best West Michigan attorney for high-stakes criminal defense. We provide a sophisticated shield for juveniles and their parents in cases involving:
DUI and Drunk Driving: Specifically “Zero Tolerance” violations for drivers under 21.
Retail Fraud and Shoplifting: Keeping a theft allegation from destroying college or career prospects.
Domestic Violence: Handling sensitive family conflicts that end up in the juvenile court.
Criminal Sexual Conduct: Defending against the most serious allegations that threaten to put a child on the Sex Offender Registry (SORA).
In 2024 and 2025, Michigan passed landmark reforms that eliminated most juvenile court fines and fees.
You no longer pay for your child’s court-appointed attorney fees or residential placement costs in most cases.
Restitution remains mandatory: If property was damaged, the court will still order payment to the victim. We fight to ensure these amounts are fair and not inflated by aggressive insurance companies.
If they are adjudicated in the juvenile system, the record is not “public” in the same way an adult record is. However, it can still be seen by law enforcement and certain employers. We specialize in Juvenile Expungement, which allows us to set aside adjudications once the child reaches adulthood.
Schools have a lower threshold for searches (“reasonable suspicion” instead of “probable cause”). However, if the Grand Rapids Public Schools security or police overstepped their bounds, we can move to suppress the evidence found on school grounds.
This is the first time your child appears before a judge or referee. It is the most critical stage of the case. Call 616-438-6719 immediately if your child has been detained so we can represent them at this hearing to prevent them from being sent to a detention facility.
A serious juvenile charge could lead to a young person being sentenced as an adult. Contact Shawn at The Criminal Defense Law Center of West Michigan right away if your child is facing any juvenile criminal charge. Shawn can defend your child against any of the following juvenile crimes:
The legal issues and law in juvenile delinquency cases are usually different than adult cases. You will need to hire a lawyer at The Criminal Defense Law Center of West Michigan to defend your child against the potential life-changing penalties for any juvenile criminal charge. My lawyers won’t judge you or your child regarding the juvenile crimes.
If you are under 17 years old at the time of a criminal offense in West Michigan, your case could be heard in juvenile court. Typically, juvenile sentences are often lighter than adult sentences. However, don’t let that make you think your child can face these issues without a tough criminal defense lawyer by their side.
It is our goal to preserve your child’s clean criminal record, and the sooner we can get involved the better. We understand that sometimes children make mistakes and commit crimes, but The Criminal Defense Law Center of West Michigan is devoted to doing our best to ensure that those mistakes do not have lifelong effects on your child’s ability to attend college or get a job.
We will work closely with both parents and the juvenile to work towards a solution. In addition, our attorneys are experienced at negotiating with the Prosecutors. We can advocate for in-home placement of juveniles, as well as any other alternatives to Juvenile Detention. Juvenile delinquency matters can have serious long term consequences. You will need an attorney experienced in Juvenile law to handle your child’s case and protect all of their rights.
In some juvenile offenses, we may be able to push the court to place the juvenile on the consent calendar. If placed on the consent docket, no plea will be entered in the criminal case, provided that both the juvenile and his or her parents accept his or her placement on the juvenile consent calendar. The consent calendar gives juvenile offenders a chance to complete certain terms within a specified period of time, and thereby avoid any record of a criminal charge or court proceeding.
The Criminal Defense Law Center of West Michigan believes every child’s future is worth fighting for and protecting. We understand what is at stake in every juvenile case. We will work to discover the best legal option for the juvenile. Juvenile crimes can negatively impact your child for years. Get an attorney asap!
We can fight to make sure a juvenile’s case is not waived to adult court. We want your case to remain confidential so that the juvenile’s reputation remains intact. We can protect juvenile offenders from harsh criminal sentencing, and fight aggressively against incarceration.