Although teens are often arrested for various crimes in Rancho Cucamonga, it can be shocking when it happens to your family. If your child has been arrested and charged with a crime, you may be frightened about what will happen to your child in California’s criminal justice system and how this incident will affect their future. It’s important that you understand how to protect your child’s rights and keep his or her record clean.
Instruct Your Child Not to Speak to Law Enforcement
While everyone has the Constitutional right to remain silent, it’s specifically important to juvenile crime cases. Your child has no obligation to speak to law enforcement, no matter what police officers say or promise in return for a statement. Officers often use a variety of questionable tactics to try to extract information from juveniles who are easily intimidated by them. Even when a juvenile is telling the truth, law enforcement will often twist words in order to pursue a conviction. Let your child know that they don’t have to talk to anyone except for you and/or their attorney. Tell your child that they should politely decline to answer any questions asked by law enforcement — especially if no parent or attorney is present.
Contact an Attorney as Soon as Possible
In juvenile crime cases, it’s critical to have an attorney on your side who not only understands California state laws, but also understands how the local laws work in Rancho Cucamonga. A conviction could potentially wreak havoc on your child’s life, giving them a criminal record and affecting them emotionally and socially. As a parent, you undoubtedly want to protect them from the harsh criminal system. It is even more crucial that you hire an experienced criminal defense lawyer if your child is on the cusp of adulthood and prosecutors have the option to charge your child as an adult. A seasoned attorney can help prevent that from happening and may be able to reduce or eliminate the charges against your child.
Reach Out to Criminal Defense Attorney Josh Visco Today
When you face the frightening prospect of your child being convicted of a crime and punished severely, Attorney Josh Visco can help. By working in conjunction with prosecutors, it may be possible to have the case dismissed or handled informally with counseling and community service. Call now for a consultation to discuss your child’s case in detail at (714) 315-7152.