Other criminal law areas

We are also happy to advise and represent you in the areas of juvenile, traffic, narcotics and sexual criminal law.

Juvenile criminal law differs in many respects from adult criminal law. The special features result from the Juvenile Court Act (JGG), which is only applicable to juveniles (14 to 17 years) and adolescents (18 to 20 years).

The decisive factor is the age of the offender at the time of the offense. Children under the age of 14 are not covered by the JGG. In accordance with Section 19 of the Criminal Code, they act without guilt and therefore cannot be prosecuted, even if they have committed an unlawful offense. If the accused is between 14 and 18 years of age, juvenile criminal law always applies. Between the ages of 18 and 21, the defendant is considered an adolescent; application of juvenile criminal law is possible, but not mandatory. From the age of 21, a person is considered an adult in criminal law, so that juvenile criminal law can no longer be applied and normal adult criminal law applies.

The juvenile criminal law is based on the so-called educational idea – not the punishment, but the education (with the aim to avoid a renewed delinquency) is in the foreground.

Based on this, a decisive difference between juvenile criminal law and general criminal law lies in the legal consequences provided for. Although juveniles and adolescents can commit the same criminal offenses under the Criminal Code as adults, the court has other forms of punishment at its disposal than the fine or imprisonment provided for in the Criminal Code. For example, the juvenile court judge can order educational measures (Section 9 of the Juvenile Courts Act) or punish the offense with disciplinary measures (Section 13 of the Juvenile Courts Act) or a juvenile sentence (Section 17 of the Juvenile Courts Act).

We are aware of the particular psychological stress, uncertainties and fears that accompany criminal proceedings for both juveniles and their parents and therefore support them not only with professional expertise but also with the necessary empathy.

In our view, constructive cooperation with the youth welfare offices, guardians, the public prosecutor’s office and the juvenile courts is essential in order to promote a positive outcome of the proceedings in terms of the educational concept.

Since road traffic is an area with which almost every citizen in Germany is constantly confronted, and since even minor inattention can lead to considerable consequences, traffic criminal law forms a large part of the practice of criminal law.

Criminal traffic law covers all offenses committed in connection with criminal traffic. Suitable offenders can be not only car drivers, motorcyclists, e-scooter drivers, etc., but also cyclists or even pedestrians.

Criminal traffic law includes, among others:

• Drunkenness in traffic (§ 316 StGB)
• Dangerous interference with road traffic (§ 315 StGB)
• Endangering road traffic (§ 316 StGB)
• Prohibited motor vehicle racing (§ 315d StGB)
• Unauthorized removal from the scene of an accident (§ 142 StGB)
• Coercion in road traffic (§ 240 StGB)
• Negligent bodily injury in road traffic (§ 229 StGB)
• Negligent homicide in road traffic (§ 222 StGB)
• Driving without a license (§ 21 StVG)

In criminal traffic law, sanctions include not only fines or even imprisonment, but also the imposition of a driving ban or the revocation of the driver’s license.

In order to reduce such sanctions to a minimum or even to avoid them completely, we will defend you both in preliminary proceedings and in a court hearing with the necessary practical experience, the necessary expertise and the knowledge of current case law.

We are also happy to help you if you are the subject of administrative offence proceedings and have received a penalty notice against which you would like to take action.

Should you find yourself confronted with proceedings in the area of narcotics criminal law, legal counsel with sound knowledge is of particular importance in order to be able to correctly assess the individual case concerning you and thus lead to the best possible result.

The relevant standardization is found in the Narcotics Act (BtMG – Gesetz über den Verkehr mit Betäubungsmitteln). which even small amounts can lead to serious criminal sanctions. In the Narcotics Act (BtMG), the sixth section starting with Section 29 BtMG regulates the criminal offenses and misdemeanors for violations of the BtMG.

The BtMG not only defines which substances are prohibited (e.g., hashish, marijuana, amphetamines, metamphetamines, cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, and LSD), but also explicitly specifies the penalties for each narcotics offense. Here, the BtMG not only differentiates between the various narcotics “soft”, “medium” and “hard” drugs), but also the corresponding quantities.

We advise and defend you both in the early stages of a preliminary investigation and in possible later court proceedings with expertise, strategic skill and commitment.

Sexual criminal law covers all those criminal acts that are sexually related. If you are confronted with such an accusation, the stakes are very high in many cases. For example, many of the accused fear for their personal and professional existence as well as their reputation in public and in their social environment.

The most common accusations in sexual criminal law include:

• Sexual assault; rape (§ 177 StGB).
• Sexual harassment (§ 184i StGB)
• Sexual abuse (§§ 174 ff. StGB)
• Acts in connection with prohibited pornography, especially child pornography (for example, possession or distribution of pornographic writings), §§ 184 ff. StGB.
• Pimping (§ 181a StGB)

Due to our practical experience as well as special negotiating skills and outstanding professional expertise, we can help you to bring the proceedings to the best possible conclusion. In the area of sexual criminal law, we can look back on a wealth of acquittals and dismissals in preliminary proceedings and will also assist you in the stressful situation you are facing.