Receiving that dreaded phone call about your child’s legal troubles is every parent’s nightmare. But knowing how to help your child with legal issues can make all the difference in protecting their future.
Every parent perceives their children as people who aren’t prone to any major mistakes, at least not the ones that involve legal matters. But then, one day, all of a sudden, you receive that phone call, letting you know that your kid has been taken into custody.
This is the type of call that no parent ever wants to receive, however, as an adult, it’s your responsibility to take matters into your own hands and do what’s necessary to help your child as much as you can.
How to Help Your Child with Legal Issues: A Parent’s Guide
Since both of you are in this situation for the first time, it can be pretty challenging to determine how to act and what steps to take to properly navigate everything. If you could use some guidance as far as this goes, then these are the actions that you must resort to.
Stay Away From The Police
In certain circumstances, the police can be your friend, however, this isn’t one of them. Most parents would immediately go to the police to seek help, but that’s not going to cut it right now. You may get the urge to justify your child, to explain the causes behind their wrongdoing, but that’s, in fact, a major mistake.
How come, you’re probably wondering? Well, that’s because anything you say can be used against you and/or your kiddo.
Speaking of this, you also shouldn’t expect to receive any type of help from the counselor or principal, because, as previously concluded, anything that the two of you say can be used against you.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that you are allowed to be disrespectful to the police. At the end of the day, you need to set an example for your child, and one of the surefire ways to do so is by showing some level of respect to the police because that will teach them to be respectful as well.
It’s Time To Contact The Lawyer
Some parents expect their children to act as adults, which is rarely the case, especially when they are in their teenage years. In this period, they can be very fragile, sensitive, and prone to various actions, that you as a parent may not be able to understand.
If your kid is currently dealing with specific legal issues, then the next best thing to do is to contact a defense attorney. Thankfully, today, you can easily find the ones who have a plethora of experience with the juvenile offense. You can resort to a skilled criminal defense lawyer in St. Louis if you reside in this city, or any other that’s in your vicinity. Whoever you pick, the point is that this legal expert is here to properly represent your child, and make all the difference in shaping their life and future.
Keep in mind that these people have lots of experience when it comes to this, which means that they’ll be able to develop certain strategies that will ensure the best possible outcome for your kiddo.
Of course, the overall outcome mostly depends on the circumstances (referring to the offense). If it’s something that’s relatively mild, then they may even completely dismiss the charges. Besides this, another perk of having an advocate in these instances is the fact that you and your child are going to receive all the support you can get, not only legal but emotional too.
Since they have worked with cases like yours, they’ll be able to properly build a defense for your child, and, concurrently, help the two of you better understand all the options that are at your disposal.
You Need To Know What You Can Expect During This Process
If you are currently very puzzled by all of this, don’t worry, that’s completely normal and understandable since that’s something that you’ve never faced before. As a parent, you have every right to ask all sorts of questions regarding the charges that your kid is facing.
The two of you are probably under major stress and pressure right now, and although there’s no such thing as an immediate solution to this problem, asking the questions will indeed bring some relief because you’ll finally know what to expect, regardless of how serious and negative it may potentially be.
If you’ve hired a solicitor, then they are going to be the ones who are going to thoroughly explain to you and your kiddo what may be a potential outcome, based on the charges and details of the case.
If by any chance, (even after certain answers) there are still some questions that you want to ask, feel free to do so, because, after all, the future and life of your child are currently in question, hence you have every right to be familiar with everything, to comprehend your child’s rights, and all the steps that are supposed to be taken that will aid your child’s defense.
In-Depth Information Regarding Your Child’s Rights
As concluded above, it’s of huge importance to know everything that’s relevant concerning your child’s rights. A vast majority of parents do not have the slightest idea what to do if their kid is charged with a crime.
Therefore, as an adult, and, above everything, their parent, it’s practically your obligation to get your facts straight as far as this is concerned so that a charge does not come as a result of police misconduct or any other mistake that may occur when a minor is charged with a certain crime.
Speaking of this, there are a couple of rights that your kid has, and below they are going to be enumerated so that you can be more aware of what rights they have in these circumstances:
- Your child has the right to call someone after an arrest
- They have the right to counsel
- The police are obligated to have probable cause to search your kid
- Your child has every right to communicate and cross-examine any witnesses
- As a minor, they cannot testify against themselves
Supporting Your Child Through Legal Troubles: What Parents Need to Know
As stated in the beginning, no parent ever expects their child to be charged with a crime, which means that they are hardly prepared for it, once it happens. However, if you want your child to be provided with a stable support system, then these are the steps that you must take.
Jessi is the creative mind behind The Coffee Mom, a popular blog that combines parenting advice, travel tips, and a love for all things Disney. As a trusted Disney influencer and passionate storyteller, Jessi’s authentic insights and relatable content resonate with readers worldwide.