Every parent dreads the thought that his or her child can get into trouble someday. Regardless, for many different reasons, teenagers can get into trouble and find themselves facing criminal charges. If this happens to your child, it is important that you discuss what happened with him or her. If your child tells you that he or she did commit the offense that he or she is accused of, this information can be difficult to digest.

Upon learning that your child did something illegal, you might feel like there is nothing that you can do to help him or her. You might think that the only option is to go to court, plead guilty, and accept whatever punishment the judge doles out. However, the criminal justice system is more complicated than that. Even if your child is guilty of a crime, it is still important that you hire a juvenile defense lawyer to protect his or her rights in court.

Facing Additional Charges

Even if your teenager admits to you that he or she is guilty of a crime, your teen might be facing additional charges that he or she did not commit. For example, if your teenager admits to you that he or she was buying marijuana and was busted, your teen would be guilty of possession. However, the police might also charge your child with intent to sell, which is not the case. A juvenile defense lawyer can build a case to prove that your child was not trying to sell the marijuana, and the charges for that crime can be dropped.

Facing Harsh Punishments

A knowledgeable juvenile defense lawyer will know what the appropriate punishment should be based on your individual case. For example, the juvenile defense attorney will take into consideration the circumstances of the crime, if your teen has any prior offenses, the character of your teen, and his or her involvement in the crime. All of these factors could mean a lighter sentence for your teen. It is essential that you hire a juvenile defense lawyer to help convince a judge why this is the case. Even if your teen committed a crime, it is important that he or she receives a fair sentencing for that crime. A juvenile defense lawyer can help you get the best deal for your child.

False Confessions

Your teen should really have a lawyer present whenever the police interrogate him or her. Many people (especially young people) are not equipped to deal with police interrogations and will end up admitting to things that they never did. To ensure that this does not happen to your child, make sure a juvenile defense lawyer is present to advise your teen on what to do.

Even if your child committed a crime, it is important that you hire a juvenile defense lawyer to make sure that he or she is treated fairly throughout the juvenile court process. For a free consultation to discuss your options, contact me.