Help Me Help My Teen, Run Aways, Substance Abuse, Legal Issues, Education Problems

So what do you do if your teen is flirting with trouble?  Have you tried repeatedly to enforce rules and eliminate the bad behavior, but your teen will not listen to you?  Do not call the police to “teach your kid a lesson” unless you intend to allow the legal system to run its course. Law enforcement officials will not “go easy” on your child because it is a first offense, or because he/she is a juvenile.  Once you call the police, you have ushered your child into the legal system which can be a complicated system to navigate.

What happens if your child has already been arrested?

What Not To Do

1. Do not go through the juvenile justice system without a lawyer.
2. Do not be afraid of the stigma of having a troubled teen, and avoid the issue.  You have a real problem that needs to be addressed and dealt with.
3. Don’t ever think that you don’t need a lawyer!

To Do

1. If you don’t want your child in the legal system, call a bondsman, and get him/her out of jail as soon as possible. This may be especially important if your child is on medication.  Jail is not equipped to handle kids on meds.
2. Contact a Criminal Defense Attorney.  There are many kinds of attorneys, who specialize in different areas of legal expertise.  Be sure you have a Criminal Defense Attorney.
3. Trust is important, and you will need to develop a relationship with your attorney.  Choose the lawyer that is right for you.  Interview more than one attorney before you decide.
4. Do not rush to make a decision, and make a plea just to end the process.  Remember, this is a government system and everything will take time.

Paul Damico

Criminal Defense Attorney

The Woodlands, Texas

This is a great link if your child is incarcerated in an adult facility in Texas. You will be able to email, add money to the commissary card, and add money to phone cards. You will need a credit card to add money to the accounts and to buy virtual ’stamps’ for the emails. The link is:

www.jpay.com

When you discover your child has been arrested, a million thoughts go through your mind. Is your child safe? What do I do now? Even though you are in shock, if your teen has been arrested there are still things that you can to protect her. The following are deliberate steps that you must take once this happens.

Contact the police
Your teen has either committed a crime, has been mistaken for someone who has committed a crime, or has associated with others who have committed a crime (the wrong place at the wrong time). Regardless, we recommend that you contact the police immediately. You will be given the name of the arresting officer or the detective in charge of the crime. He or she will be able to give you information about your child’s offense, where your child is being held, and when your child’s court date will be.

A Lawyer
If your teen has gotten before, you may be facing a complex set of laws and consequences. We advise that you contact a legal professional to help you navigate the judicial system. If you lack the funds to provide your teen with an attorney, one may be provided for you.

Go to the court dates
This may seem like a simple recommendation, but it is important. Remember, when your teen is arrested, in a way, so are you. If you fail to make court appearances with your child, your assigned judge may enforce consequences against you.

Comply with all consequences
After your child attends court it is important that you and your child comply with all edicts prescribed by the judge. Some that may be applied are: community service, visits with a probation officer, individual or group therapy, or classes to address anger or other behaviors.

Dr. Kate Walker, Ph.D, LPC, LMFT
AchieveBalance.org