Nobody is infallible, not even children. A child breaking the law is arguably one of the hardest things that a parent can go through, especially if the crime committed is severe enough to warrant jail time.
If your child has broken the law, then it is very important that you handle the situation maturely and without emotion. It is also crucial that you punish your child, making sure that they don’t ever break the law again.
This post will cover all of the aforementioned and more, explaining what you are supposed to do if your child breaks the law:
Legal Representation
If your child’s offense is severe enough to warrant their arrest, then you will need to get legal representation. If the police arrest and charge your child, then they will have to go to court to be sentenced.
According to the legal experts from olsonlawfirm.com, all you have to do to find a lawyer is to reach out by phone or email, and a representative of the firm that you are contacting will get in touch with you. Make sure that your child’s lawyer is professional, experienced, and a good communicator.
Your child’s legal representation will play a big part in reducing their sentence.
Contacting Law Enforcement
If your child has broken the law but has not been caught, then it is your duty and responsibility to contact the police yourself and turn your child in. If you harbor your child knowing that they have broken the law, then you could get into a lot of trouble, and you will set a precedent with your child that it’s okay to lie and break the law.
Handing your child over to the police is one of the hardest things that you may ever have to do, but it is unfortunately essential. A failure to hand your child over to the police could be the catalyst for a lifetime of behavioral and legal issues for your child.
Criminal behavior must never be tolerated by anybody, regardless of their relationship with you.
Acquiring Evidence
If your child has been falsely accused of breaking the law, then you need to do your best to find evidence that shows this. It is essential that you find a lawyer with a lot of experience and an investigator that works for them, also.
Finding evidence that proves your child’s innocence will help with their acquittal. If they did commit a crime but their involvement was minimal and it was other people that were chiefly responsible, then you should try to get evidence of this too.
The best evidence that you can get is your child’s testimony if this was the case.
Explain Situation
You need to explain to your child what they have done wrong, especially if they are young. If your child is young and you do not explain what they have done wrong to them, then they could go on to develop behavioral issues later on in life.
If you don’t stamp out any criminal behavior young, then the rest of your child’s life could be tainted with criminality. You also need to consider getting to the bottom of your child’s behavior and identifying what led them to commit a crime, which will be explored in the next section.
Therapeutic Treatment
Unless your child’s crime was committed by mistake, it is important to get them therapeutic treatment. Sessions with a therapist will help to get to the bottom of your child’s behavioral issues and identify what led to them thinking that it was acceptable to commit a crime.
If you want to, you can participate in therapy with them, although most experts agree that it’s best to let them see a therapist alone. The only time that you should get involved is if your child’s criminality was caused by something that you have done.
Presentation
Lastly, you need to make sure that your child looks their best at all of their court dates and legal appointments. Your child’s appearance and attitude will play a large role in the judge’s decision when it comes to sentencing.
If your child is disheveled and disinterested, then the judge will be more likely to issue a harsh punishment. If your child is polite, good-mannered, and wears formal attire, then they are less likely to receive a maximum sentence (unless their crime was very serious, in which case it is especially important for them to look their best).
Sometimes children break the law. It’s not easy being young, and the pressure that’s put on young people today sometimes leads children to act out. Whatever your child has done, you should stick with them.
However, sticking with them doesn’t mean hiding and facilitating their criminal behavior. Make sure to punish them as well, which may involve taking away their electronic devices and forbidding them from spending time outside with friends.
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