There are consequences to violating a law no matter the age of the accused. However, charges against minors need to be handled differently in court than with adults. As such, it’s understandable that a minor or the legal guardian of a minor may not know the best course of action to take when facing charges.
Hire a Lawyer
The very first thing you should always do when facing criminal charges is to contact a lawyer. This is especially true because of the aforementioned confusion that comes with charges against a minor. As juvenile defense lawyers in Bucks County, we can translate any confusing legal jargon to ensure the minor isn’t taken advantage of because of their age. They have many of the same rights that adults do, and so do their parents or legal guardians.
Get to the Root of the Problem
The parents or legal guardians need to understand why the minor in their care engaged in criminal activity. This serves many purposes. It helps create a strong connection with the minor, allowing them to be better supported. It also helps you work to ensure it doesn’t happen again. It may be a result of difficulties or stress that their school or families are unaware of. The goal is to protect the minor, and that can’t happen if we don’t know what’s hurting them.
Be Open
Likewise, for minors, it’s always in your best interest, to tell the truth. It’s not uncommon to take the blame for criminal activity and face charges to protect a friend. But keeping secrets only enables their behavior to be repeated, and you can face perjury charges. And trying to cover up a lie almost always involves telling more lies. It’s also natural to worry about charges as a minor affecting you later in life. There are instances where you can have your record expunged, meaning it’s essentially erased, no longer accessible to the public, and only a small amount of information may be retained by a juvenile justice agency.
Secure Your Future
The outcome of the trial can have a significant impact on the rest of the minor’s life. To make sure they have the best possible chance of succeeding in the future, contact Schatz and Stancu. We will fight tirelessly to ensure the minor’s rights are protected and that they will be able to lead normal lives as adults. Whether it’s for a drug possession defense attorney in Southampton or a traffic offense lawyer in Bensalem, we’re here for you. Reach out to us by phone or online today.