Juvenile Crime Accusations: First Steps

Parents hope their children grow up to become productive members of society, but that growing up period is often challenging. Kids make mistakes. Some kids are troublemakers, and sometimes good children do bad things. Sometimes, innocent children are accused of doing wrong. Either way, for parents, hearing that their child has not only been accused of wrong-doing but that the wrong deed is a crime, is a jaw-dropping, stress-inducing, “What do I do now?” situation. Each case is different, but here are the first steps to take if your child has been accused of a juvenile crime.

Step One: Calm Down and Focus

After the initial shock of hearing your child is accused of a crime, calm down and focus. Resist wasting time chastising the child, and look for a solution to the problem. Emotional reactions cloud rational thought and will not get your child out of legal trouble. Now is the time to be proactive.

Step Two: Know Your Child’s Rights

Your child has the right to an attorney, but not every state requires that parents be present during police questioning. That means a minor may have to go through a lengthy interrogation alone. Some police departments, as a courtesy, do allow parents to be with a child during questioning.

Step Three: Think Long Term

Having the charges dropped is the ideal outcome of being accused of a juvenile crime, but the arrest itself could remain in law enforcement records for years. Not all juvenile records are sealed, which means down the road, these records could affect college, jobs, and other aspects of adult life. Find a way to make sure the accusations don’t impact your child when they become an adult.

Step Four: Don’t Play Attorney

Unless you have an law degree or extensive knowledge of the law, don’t try to be your child’s lawyer. You may give your child bad advice, allow them to say something incriminating or let them sign away their rights. Don’t make your child’s legal problems worse.

Remember, children can be impulsive. Illogical and irrational youthfulness means even the best kids tend to act now and think of the consequences later.  What better way to address your child’s current legal woes and look out for their future than with proper legal counsel? No matter the circumstances, we will always handle your child’s case with the utmost respect and diligence. If your child is accused of a crime, contact our firm online or at 206-621-0500.