What to Do If Your Child Gets Arrested

Bradenton FL

18 January, 2021

11:19 AM

Description

Being arrested can only be described as traumatic. Still, the trauma of being arrested, for most parents, is eclipsed by learning that one of your children has been arrested, especially if the child is a minor and still living at your home. The very first step should happen before anyone is ever arrested. If you haven’t done so already, be sure your children understand their rights. They should know not to volunteer any information or answer any questions when arrested, aside from their name and basic information, such as a driver’s license or insurance card. They should immediately request to speak to you, and you should immediately call a skilled juvenile lawyer. If you are unavailable, your children should request an attorney themselves. The Critical First Steps When your minor child has been arrested, it’s important to set aside your feelings of anger, fear, and frustration and concentrate on the critical first steps. The best way to get some immediate relief is to contact an attorney, someone who will take control, help you calm down, and be on your side only. Rest assured that an attorney can help. Of course, from this point on, your lawyer will direct you regarding what steps to take, when to take those steps, and how to take those steps. Nonetheless, if you have not yet contacted an attorney for some reason or another, or even if you have, your critical first steps will likely be something along the lines of the following: Understand the charges. The arrest could be for a single reason or multiple reasons, and there may be multiple charges. It’s important that you understand exactly what you’re facing. Ask for copies of the arrest records and ask the arresting officer for any information they are willing to give you. Most police officers are sympathetic to these situations, and their advice may be critical. Go online and research the charges, being sure to limit your research to your particular state in most cases, so you can understand what kind of legal representation will be required.Be respectful. If you do have contact with the arresting officers, politeness, courtesy, and cooperation go a long way. Still, don’t make the mistake of thinking the police are on your side. Technically, they shouldn’t be on anyone’s side, but rather should behave neutrally.Don’t play lawyer. Unless you are a criminal attorney, don’t pretend to be one. Even if you are an attorney, conventional wisdom dictates that you do not attempt to represent your child, but rather hire an independent attorney.Fulfill all legal requirements. At this point, you’ll have to deal with the formalities of the arrest, such as arranging for bail, attending hearings, and filling out mountains of paperwork. Accordingly, your lawyer should be directing you through the long process of dealing with an arrest. The Next Steps Aside from the criminal proceedings, there will likely need to be some changes in your children and in your family life in order to prevent future arrests. Consider the following steps: Talk to your child. Try to understand what happened from their point of view, without anger. Figure out any underlying issues that may have led to the illegal behavior. Try to make sure that lines of communication in your household are open and safe. Reassure your children that they can come to you with any issue without fear of recrimination.Reassure your child. This isn’t the end of the world, but it may seem like it to your child. Reassure them that this issue will be resolved, and that life will go on.Stay supportive and work together. This is key to getting cooperation from your child.Consider counseling. Some illegal behavior is a warning sign that your child may be troubled beyond what you are capable of dealing with. Explore the possibility of getting expert help. Seeing your child being arrested is a traumatic and often bewildering experience. You don’t have to face it alone. If one of your minor children has been arrested, seek help from a legal professional.