JUVENILE LAW - YOUR CHILD'S FUTURE AT RISK

Many a parent has received an unexpected telephone call from their child's school or a police officer asking them to be present during an investigation of their child's misbehavior or suspected criminal activity. If a serious crime has been commited the child will have already been removed to a lock-up pending the parent's arrival.

The meeting with the officer in charge  will be conducted on a professional and courteous level, undobtedly with assurances by the officer that you and the child's full cooperation will lead to a fair resolution of the matter. Parent's are encouraged to counsel their children that a confession, preferably in writing, will benefit everyone involved.

Just realize the officer's job is to get a conviction, regardless of the consequences  to you or your child !

What parents don't know is that the officer frequently has little or no evidence that your child has committed a crime unless he or she gets the child to confess.

You, as well as your child, have the right to remain silent and not discuss the incident or your child's involvement in it. But, you cannot lie to the officer as this will be taken as an obstruction of the investigation (a misdemeanor).

Many parents believe that  the family, not the State of Michigan, should rightly discipline their child and you have the same right.

If you receive any contact from the police concerning your children, you have only a short time to get legal advice from an attorney before proceeding. For some insight into the juvenile court process, CLICK HERE.