Being the parent of a child who gets into trouble with the law is not easy. You have to weigh the potential benefit of your child being punished for violating the law with the risk of their future being ruined because of it.
It is essential that you work with a defense attorney if your child is facing trouble with the law. Your attorney may be able to support your child with a strong defense against allegations involving:
- Underage drinking
- Vandalism
- Fighting
- Underage possession of tobacco
- Possession of prescriptions that don’t belong to them
- Speeding
- Driving recklessly
- Other misdemeanor or felony crimes
Though it is important that your child learns right from wrong, the penalties should always match the crime. Unfortunately, the prosecution may attempt to seek the harshest penalties, which may be harmful to your child in the long-term.
Children make mistakes, and it is important that they have the opportunity to learn from them and grow in the future. They deserve an opportunity to get educated in the law, to understand what they did and to improve themselves. Serious criminal consequences may make it hard for them to do so.
Criminal penalties may also make your life harder as a parent, because your child could end up having their college scholarships affected. They may be limited in the aid they can receive or the places they can work in the future. They could even be suspended or expelled from school because of their actions, which only goes further to negatively impact their future.
A good defense attorney can help minimize the risk of your child ending up in prison or facing significant fines. It may even prevent a conviction. Our website has more information on the importance of preventing minors from getting convictions and how a good defense can protect your child’s rights and their ability to get a job, go to college or get a loan in the future. Everything may be at risk, but your attorney can give you more information on methods that may help.