My Teen Has Been Arrested. Now What?

 Posted on June 19, 2017 in Juvenile Crimes

Raising children can be one of the most rewarding yetchallenging parts of adult life. Our children goout into the world as extensions of ourselves, and as parents we constantly worryabout their safety and how we can keep them out of trouble. Weeven attempt to plan ahead for any potential issues that may arise—we teach ourchildren the difference between right and wrong and instill moral values. Still, bad decisions are made.

Decisions can Become Criminal in a Split Second

It only takes a moment for an otherwise thoughtful and law abiding teen to make a decision that can change the rest of his or her life. According to federal records in 2010, 1.6 million juveniles were arrested. Recent governmental research suggests that nearly 30.2 percent of American citizens will be arrested by the time they are 23 years of age.

The most common types of juvenile criminal cases involve the following:

• Disorderly conduct;
• Drug-related crimes;
• Theft;
• Curfew related crimes; and
• Alcohol-related infractions.

These crimes do not make our teens bad people. However, theymay land our loved ones in troublewith the law—loved ones who may have been in the wrong place at the wrong time. Childrenmay succumb to peer pressure withoutunderstanding the dire consequences that they are risking with their future. One bad decision does not have to, nor should it, relegate our youth to an entire life of crime.

Police Interaction With Our Children

For many parents who are trying to protect the interests of their children once they have been arrested, the most shocking development is that there are little national procedural standards for how police officers interact with minors once they have been arrested.

Police officers are required to notify a minor’s parents in a reasonable time after he or she hasbeen arrested. Moreover, policeare required to inform a minor’s parents of the nature of the charge as well as the next proposed steps that law enforcement will take in the case.

In the majority of instances, police will allow a parent to be present during an official interrogation. However, federally, there is no guarantee that protects a parent’s right to be present during a federal investigation inquiry.

Despite not having a constitutionally protected right to be present at your minor child’s interrogation, your minor does have a right to have a lawyer present during questioning. Additionally, atany time during the investigation, if your childasks for a lawyer, then the interview must end.

The most important step you can take to help your minor child who has been arrested to enlist the help of a talented Illinoiscriminal defense lawyer.

Erect Your Defense Immediately

Criminal investigations are fraught with peril. The government has extensive resources and the advantage of knowing their intentions. A criminal conviction for a juvenile can have disastrous effects on his or herfuture. It may affect the juvenile’sability to gain employment, take advantage of certain governmental programs, or be able to secure a professional license. Contact our skilled and relentless Rolling Meadowsjuvenile criminal defense attorneyat The Law Offices of Christopher M. Cosley. Call847-253-3100.

Source:

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ChapterID=50&ActID=1863