Having a child arrested on a criminal charge can come as quite a shock to a parent of caregiver of a minor. It is important to have an attorney present who can determine the viability of a case and the potential consequences of any plea. Fortunately the options for a juvenile may be wider then first imagined. For misdemeanor first offenses arbitration is an option where a juvenile is placed on probation with their parents supervising for 3 months and at the conclusion the charge is dismissed. Following this up with an expungement of the arrest will leave the criminal record clear and not hinder college applications. This is a typical scenario for juveniles caught drinking underage and other like offenses, and is open to children out of state as well.

For more serious offenses arbitration is not an option however it is important to put up the best defense possible in these cases. The juvenile justice system can be very unfriendly at it is important to get an honest evaluation of the prospects of the case before attempting to negotiate a deal with the prosecution. Parents typically attempt to negotiate a plea deal directly with a prosecutor in cases involving their children, and as they are not trained in the law often times end up with a worse deal then if represented by counsel. A free consultation is a great way to get an evaluation of your child’s case without obligation.