My Son Was Arrested for Domestic Violence and I Can’t Afford a Lawyer
As parents, we all fear getting the dreaded phone call that delivers news of an injury or calamity. One category of bad news that we all are afraid of is that our child has been accused of a crime. Unfortunately, people make mistakes, sometimes enhanced by alcohol or drugs. Sometimes they are the victim, and the perpetrator reports them for a variety of reasons. In any scenario, an expert lawyer is needed to prevent a miscarriage of justice and to make sure that all parties are treated with the full rights that the constitution guarantees. The criminal justice system does not always treat people fairly or equally, especially those accused of domestic violence.
In the case where your child is accused of domestic violence, please consider consulting with us, even if you cannot afford a lawyer. We are able to discuss the case in general terms and might be able to help you find appropriate assistance. We can help make sure that an innocent person, falsely accused, doesn’t get dragged through the system.
In extreme situations, a minor may be tried in court as an adult. This could result in incarceration in an adult facility once they turn 18. Otherwise, the child could be sentenced to a youth camp or other correctional facility, depending on what treatment the court deems necessary.
My 14-year-Old Daughter Was Arrested For Shoplifting
Sometimes it’s boredom, other times it’s a dare from friends. However innocent the explanation, and the fervent promises that it will not happen again, an arrest can be made. Whether it’s beer, candy, or diamonds, the impact on you and your child can be very real, including jail time, a criminal record, restitution, and the costs of a lawyer.
If your daughter is convicted of misdemeanor shoplifting, the penalty could be up to six months in county jail, a $1,000 fine, or both a fine and jail time. However, if she is convicted of a felony, the penalty for a first offense may be up to three years in state prison and/or a fine of up to $10,000. Your child could be on probation or parole after the conviction. It all depends on the circumstances and factors surrounding your case and whether your child is sentenced as a minor or adult.
Juvenile Lawyer Cost
The cost of a lawyer depends on several factors. The age of the child, the seriousness of the crime, the amount of investigation required, any criminal record, and the result desired. There is not much difference in the amount of work in defending a criminally charged juvenile or adult, especially when it is the same crime. As a practical matter, most juvenile crimes are lesser in nature and the accused usually doesn’t have a criminal record to speak of. This reduces the chance of having to fight a probation revocation or appear at a parole hearing. A basic defense for a minor incident can run in the thousand-dollar range, and the defense of a juvenile who committed a crime like an adult can run in the tens of thousands. It really depends on the circumstances – we will take your finances into account and try to provide the most economical defense possible.
How to Get Details on My Teenage Son’s Arrest
Getting a clear answer is difficult enough with teenagers in the best of circumstances. Ask as many questions as possible, but do not push your child to say anything that would incriminate themselves. We have expertise in untying the knot and will utilize our experience in whom to call and when to get information as soon as possible. Any information you gather should be shared with your child’s attorney, so they can build the strongest case possible for their defense. This can be useful in stressful situations, particularly where violence may have been part of a series of events.
What Happens When a Teenager is Arrested?
The police must tell you as soon as your child is taken into custody. They are required to tell you where he or she is and what their rights are. Depending on the circumstances, the police may choose to make a record of the arrest and allow your child to return home. Where that may not be safe, the police will find an agency that will shelter, care for, and counsel the minor. These actions may be taken in combination with the issuance of a notice to appear. In other words, the police may order your teenager to return to court. A violation of that order could constitute a separate criminal offense and lead to a bench warrant (please call our office if you have any questions about any paperwork that the police have provided your child).
In the worst case, the police will keep your child in detention in a juvenile hall. will have the right to make two phone calls within an hour of being arrested, one to a family member and one to a lawyer. If the child is 15 or younger, they must be allowed to talk to an attorney before the police can seek a waiver of their Miranda rights and interrogate them.
In many cases, the probation office will be the agency that deals with the criminal accusations. In rising order of seriousness, they could lecture and release the child, assign the child to a voluntary program (special classes, counseling, community service, etc), refer the case to the district attorney’s office for further work-up and a potential criminal filing in superior court.
The actions of the criminal justice system are varied and can have a significant impact on your family, including its financial and mental health in the near and long term. Don’t be a victim of a closed-off, often over-burdened system.
If your child or someone in your family or household has been charged with any crimes (or fear they will be), call Christy Horowitz Santa Barbara Juvenile Defense Attorney today at (805) 429-2525 to get started on your case.