No one wants to believe that they will ever have to hire a child attorney for their teen or juvenile. As your child grows older they may become involved in activities with questionable legality. Every parent knows that you cannot always control the actions of a teenager. Crimes will have serious repercussions on their children such as drug use, breaking and entering or drinking and driving. But little thought is often given to smaller offenses that your child is much more likely to be involved in. High school jokes that were once considered commonplace have now become crimes. Things like name calling and texting or posting photos to Facebook could lead to the filing of criminal charges. How can you prevent the need to hire an attorney for your child?
Explain Cyber Crime and Bullying to Your Child
Parents need to warn their children about the dangers of bullying others; even if it seems like harmless messing around at the time. With the growing use of modern technology, internet sites can take a harmless jokes to extremes.
Think before you Speak
Coach your child to choose their words carefully. They should never to make threats to harm other people or property. Even in cases where the child is angry and doesn’t mean what he or she says, has no intention of following through on the threat and even if the threat would be impossible to carry out. The old adage about “sticks and stones” no longer applies. Children can face criminal charges for threats of violence or face harassment charges even for juvenile name calling. If it occurs online or via text, there is an absolute record of his or her threats. Make sure your child understands that the internet is no anonymous. Records can trace back to your home and used against your child even if no one knows their email account or twitter handle belongs to them.
Think before you Click
Be sure that your child understands how seriously the law takes the digital transmission of threatening or sexual material. Even if a child takes a photo of him or herself and sends it willingly to another, they may face criminal charges if the “joke” goes too far. Instruct him or her never to take or send explicit photos of themselves. It may be prudent to also explain that even if such photos were meant to be kept a secret, once they are transmitted to someone else there is no guarantee of privacy.
If your child receives inappropriate photos of any person, they should never forward the material. Instruct the child to notify an adult as soon as possible if they have any knowledge or evidence that inappropriate photos are being circulated via text or internet, someone they know is being virtually harassed by classmates or inappropriate photos of a student are being circulated without his or her permission or knowledge. Instruct your child never to take or send photos of persons without their permission, especially in private areas such as the bathroom or in a locker room.
When it is Necessary to get a Child Attorney
If your child becomes involved with any crimes, even if they seem minor at the time, contact a child attorney. These violations used to mean a day in detention. Today, they can soon escalate into major criminal cases with serious legal consequences. Even if not involved, police will want to interview all implicated students. Police will often claim that a child attorney is unnecessary or assure you that these are only juvenile crimes.
However, a police officer has no control over how a case will eventually lead to prosecution. They will generally try to get you to allow an interview with no attorney present in order to make progress in the investigation. At such an early stage in such an investigation, neither you, your child or the police will have any idea where the investigation will lead or how serious the resulting charges may be, juvenile or otherwise.
Child Involved in a Police Investigation?
If a police officer wants to interview your child, contact a child attorney immediately. Contact one even if you believe your child’s innocence or that the accusations seem too ridiculous. Keep in mind that even a misdemeanor could keep your child out of college and rob them of job opportunities in the future. No one is ever sorry that they did seek legal advice. It is best not to cooperate fully in a criminal investigation until you have consulted a child attorney.
You may also need a child attorney if the police ask to examine your teen’s cell phone or computer. Unless the police have a warrant, don’t allow them to examine any of your child’s electronic devices or personal property. Even if the police investigate a crime that your child had no involvement in, they could find other incriminating material.
Juvenile or Child Investigations can Lead to Criminal Charges
If the police are called to investigate a case of cyber crime, cyber stalking or harassment, detectives will seek interviews with all of the implicated students. While detectives often assert that only juvenile court proceedings are likely to be initiated, they are not the ones who make the final decision about how a case will be prosecuted. Parents involved in an investigation should remember that a conviction could result in missing out on college & job opportunities.
If it appears that a school issue has turned into a criminal investigation, ask your child to be honest. Contact an attorney for your child if you believe implication may follow. Do not allow the police to question your child outside the presence of unqualified child attorney. Without an attorney present, they may unintentionally implicate themselves. An experienced attorney will help craft a defense and seek a lesser punishment if charges filed.
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