Juvenile cases
When it is your child's name on the paper
You are scared, and you may be angry. Both are fair. Here is how I work with a family.
A juvenile case moves differently from an adult one. The language is softer and the goal is different, but a finding can still follow a young person to a school office or an application. I treat every one with the same care I give an adult trial.
Who is in the room
Your child, you, and me. I explain each step to both of you, in words a teenager can follow, and I ask your child what happened before I ask anyone else.
What I will ask you to do
- Write down what you know, in order, before you talk to anyone
- Keep school notices, texts and any paper from the court in one folder
- Tell me about anything the school has said or done so far
- Let your child speak for themselves when it is time
What I will not do
I will not promise an outcome, and I will not make decisions about your child without you. If a program or a plea is on the table, you will hear every option from me first.
What parents ask first
Will this be on my child's record forever?
Not always. Juvenile records are treated differently from adult ones, and some can be sealed or cleared later. What applies depends on the charge and where the case is heard, and I will explain both.
Can I stay in the room?
In most juvenile courts a parent can. I will tell you what to expect before the hearing so that nothing in the room surprises you.
Should my child answer the school's questions?
Please call me before they do. A school meeting can feel informal, but what is said there can reach the court.
Call before the school does
Tell me what you know so far and how old your child is. I will explain what the first date means.