A conviction for a juvenile crime (called an “adjudication”) is extraordinarily costly both in terms of money, and in what it can mean for your child. The Law Office of Keith J. Bruno are committed to protecting juveniles charged with crimes.

SOME ADVICE FOR PARENTS:

JUVENILE RIGHTS:

Juveniles have many of the same rights as adults. As juveniles, your rights include:

• The right to remain silent during police questioning.
• The right to have an attorney accompany you when being questioned.
• The right to have parent(s) present by your request.
• The right to privacy of personal posessions.
• The police are prohibited from entering your room and/or searching closed containers – even with your parents' consent.

Keep in mind that rights are to be firmly, but politely exercised.

Knowing your rights is not an excuse to be discourteous to any law enforcement officer. A little respect goes a long way.

If you have been charged with a crime as a juvenile, you have the same right to fight the charges as does any adult.

POLICE AND PROBATION MANIPULATION:

The police and probation officer are interacting with your child in furtherance of a prosecution.

They are gathering information that will be used in a criminal proceeding against your child. Make no mistake about this. They are under no obligation to tell you the truth, and most have no problem lying to a parent in order to gather evidence against a child.

Commonly, during the course of an investigation, parents will ask the police what is going to happen to their child. The police will respond that the child will “probably get some community service”. Sounds good, right? Wrong. The juvenile courts are punitive, not rehabilitative, as they once were. Children are being incarcerated at record rates and for record amounts of time. Do not be manipulated into thinking that it won’t happen to your child.

YOU WILL PAY THE COUNTY BILLS:

Your child is charged with a crime. Maybe he/she is even arrested. You are unsure of whether to spend the money on an attorney. After all, maybe you “know” your child is guilty and this would be a good lesson learned.

First of all, he will have a lawyer. The court will not let him proceed without one. That lawyer will be the Public Defender. The county will then bill you for the “free” services of the Public Defender.

Second, you will be billed room and board for every day he/she spends incarcerated. If the county renders any services to the child while incarcerated, you will pay for that as well.

Third, you will pay a fee for every court appearance. If the matter is continued by the busy court-appointed attorney handling the case, you will incur more bills for each court appearance.

Fourth, you will pay for probation. Supervision, drug testing, counseling, etc., cost money, and the county will bill you for this as well.

Not hiring a lawyer to vigorously defend your child’s rights just became can see, the decision not to hire a prepared attorney is penny-wise and pound-foolish.

Please contact The Law Office of Keith J. Bruno online or call 866-973-2999 if you suspect your child is under investigation for a crime. Do not discuss anything with law enforcement or probation unless you have spoken to us first.