3 Things To Do If Your Child Is Arrested

Finding out that your child is facing legal problems can be challenging for a parent. Determining the best way to help your child after he or she has been arrested can be difficult if you don't have previous experience navigating the criminal law process.

Here are three things that you can do after your child is arrested to help him or her deal with the legal consequences of an arrest in the future.

1. Ask if a bond has been set.

Once your child is arrested, he or she will be taken to a juvenile detention facility to await further legal action. A bond will typically be set for each arrest case, allowing you to pay to have your child released into your custody while he or she awaits arraignment.

As soon as you learn of your child's arrest, you should ask if a bond has been set and contact an experienced and reputable bail bondsman to help you navigate the process of posting bail for your child.

2. Make sure your child knows his or her rights.

Children who are arrested usually don't have prior experience with the criminal justice system. This means that your child may not understand his or her rights when it comes to protecting himself or herself while in custody.

Advise your child to remain silent when it comes to the details of his or her case. Any information that your child provides to a fellow inmate or officers within the detention facility could be used as evidence in a future legal case, so your child needs to recognize the importance of remaining quiet when protecting his or her rights while in a juvenile detention facility.

3. Retain an experienced criminal defense lawyer.

The consequences of a juvenile arrest can be severe, with your child being required to pay a fine, serve time in a juvenile detention facility, or carry a record for the remainder of his or her lifetime.

To ensure that your child is represented to the fullest extent in court, you should hire an experienced criminal defense lawyer as quickly as possible upon finding out about your child's arrest. An attorney specializing in criminal law will be able to help you and your child navigate the legal process to minimize the negative effects of the arrest over time.

Taking action following the arrest of your child is important. To ensure that your actions are working in the best interest of your child, be sure that you ask if a bond has been set, advise your child of his or her rights, and hire an experienced criminal attorney, such as from Lowry Law Firm, to represent your child in court.