Things You Need to Know to Keep Your Kid Out Of Jail
These are perilous times to be a teenager. Kids in this generation are faced with a barrage
of temptations that didn’t exist for earlier generations. In this era of ”zero tolerance,”
it’s become tougher to be a teenager, and discretionary action by teachers,
judges and police officers has become almost non-existent.
So when it comes to encounters with cops, the rules have changed for parents.
It's almost a miracle if your kid doesn’t get arrested, or face the prospect of it, at
some point in his or her march to adulthood. Many times, it won’t even be his or
her fault!
With these times in mind, then, let’s discuss some things you need to know and
tell your kid to keep him (or her) out of jail.
1. Fix that broken tail light. Traffic stops are the number one source for
encounters with law enforcement. Since most kids are driving hand-me-down
cars (even nicer models), the odds are that something is going to
break. It’s what draws a patrol officer’s attention to your car – a missing light, or an expired
tag, or windows that are too darkly tinted. Once a cop spots something
amiss, a traffic stop is almost certain to occur.
2. Never give a cop consent to search your car or your person. When a
police officer conducts a lawful traffic stop, he’s entitled to ask for your
driver license, registration and proof of insurance. And if you’re issued a citation, vehicle?” It’s a lawful request, and often a teenager is intimidated into giving consent because, hey, it’s a cop! But there is no obligation to consent to a search… that’s why it’s called “consent”! It’s ALWAYS a bad idea to give a stranger “Officer, am I free to leave?” This forces the cop to make a decision: if he’s merely fishing for a free search, he’s going to admit that you are, in fact, free to leave. If he has reasonable suspicion, it forces him to inform you that he can obtain a warrant to search your car, which is the proper thing to do. If he obtains a warrant and conducts a search, there’s nothing to do but sit back and see what happens. Immediately call your parents and advise them what is happening. You are now officially being detained, and your fourth amendment rights have just been activated. Your parents can decide whether to hire a lawyer to explain what all those rights are. 3. Never give a statement to a law enforcement officer without your attorney present. One of the rights your lawyer will advise you of is the right to
remain silent. Sometimes well-meaning parents march their kid into a
police station or sheriff’s office to “straighten out this mess,” and answer the good officer’s questions. Almost every time, the result is the kid is marched back out in handcuffs and delivered to the local jail or juvenile detention center, facing serious misdemeanor or felony charges because he or she gave a full, complete, and voluntary statement implicating
himself or herself in a variety of criminal offenses.
4. Get a criminal defense lawyer. In these days of specialization,
you wouldn’t go to your orthopedic surgeon if you suspected you had cancer. So why would you go to a police station with a divorce lawyer when a cop wants to interview you about a burglary, or an aggravated battery? If things have already come to the point of police involvement, find a good criminal defense lawyer. Be prepared to spend some money. 5. Don’t be in a hurry to resolve your case. If the worst happens, and you find yourself arrested, or even confined, remember that a conviction is forever. If the offense is not that significant, such as a simple possession case, most of the time there will be an opportunity for some type of pre-trial diversion. With more serious cases, such as felonies or violent crimes, time often negatively impacts the state’s case, and improves the defense’s case. Witnesses move or go to college, more serious offenses take precedence with the court, budget cuts overload overworked prosecutors, and the older cases are more easily negotiated. A competent defense attorney knows the system and can navigate you through the process with as little exposure as possible. The six months (or even a year) your case may take could work to your advantage with more serious cases. So let things work themselves out and give your lawyer time to do his or her thing. You may have noticed that the things that will keep your kid out of jail will also imagined because they were just trying to be “helpful” to a law enforcement officer. Don't think this is an anti cop article with this information. Most of the honest ones (and most police officers are honest) tell their kids the same things. Keep your car in good repair, keep the music turned down low enough so you
there’s no reason not to sign it or argue with the officer;. Once the citation has
been issued, however, an officer could ask you for permission to search your car.
It may sound something like this: "Would you mind if I searched your
(even a cop) permission to search your car. Instead, you should ask one question:
There are a number of factors involved in determining a fee for attorney
services, including the local market, the attorney’s expertise,
and the complexity of the case. There are plenty of honest, bright and ethical
lawyers who don’t have all the fancy trappings and are perfectly capable
of handling your case. Find a lawyer you have confidence in, then follow his
or her advice.
keep you out of jail! All this ”zero tolerance” stuff doesn’t just impact kids;
plenty of adults have found themselves in situations they never
can hear a siren behind you, be polite and professional, and remember the question:
“Officer, am I free to leave?”
Warning Signs on Teen Suicide
a change in eating habits, gain weight or loss of appetite.
____________________________________________________
Signs OF TEEN DRUG USE
loss of interest in family activities
loss of interest in______________________________________________________________
Tips To ID A Cheating Spouse
Here's a list of critical signs that may help you find out the truth.
- He/she starts telling lies for no reason.
- He/she starts coming home at unusual times and refuses to give any rational explanation.
- He/she suddenly starts exercising or going to the gym.
- He/she buys a whole new wardrobe of fancy and flashy clothes.
- He/she buys a new perfume/cologne.
- He/she starts a new diet
- He/she suddenly changes his/her driving pattern.
- He/she buys new hot/sexy underwear.
- He/she starts spending more money without giving any explanation.
|
Child Custody and Visitation IF THE PARTIES CANNOT REACH AN AGREEMENT on visitation and child custody matters, the court, not you, will determine each parent's rights and obligations toward their children. The court will make decisions about your children if:
Custody refers to the responsibility of caring for the children and planning for their future. If you have children with another person, the end of that relationship usually does not mean the end of your contact with that person. Together you should try to agree on a plan that is best for your children. There are many different types of custody:
If you and the other parent cannot agree on a plan, the court will decide. The official legal standard is always the child's "best interest". The problem in many divorces or actions involving children is that there is not always a clear line that one parent is better than the other. The policy favored by the courts is that arrangement which allows for frequent and continuing contact with both parents. Before the court makes these decisions, parents must go through a process with Family Court Services called "mediation". But if there is a need for immediate orders, the court could issue them prior to mediation. |
Missing Person
Reports of missing persons have increased sixfold in the past 25 years, from roughly 150,000 in 1980 to about 900,000 this year. The increase was driven in part by the country's growing population. But the numbers also indicate that law enforcement treats the cases more seriously now, including those of marginalized citizens.
An astounding 2,300 Americans are reported missing every day, including both adults and children.
But only a tiny fraction of those are stereotypical abductions or kidnappings by a stranger.
For example, the federal government counted 840,279 missing persons cases in 2001. All but about 50,000 were juveniles, classified as anyone younger than 18.
The National Center for Missing Adults, based in Phoenix, consistently tracks about 48,000 "active cases," says president Kym Pasqualini, although that number has been bumped up by nearly 11,000 reports of persons missing after this year's hurricanes.
In a phone interview, Pasqualini said a breakdown of the 48,000 cases reveals the democratic nature of America's missing persons.
Slightly more than half—about 25,500—of the missing are men. About four out of 10 missing adults are white, three of 10 black and two of 10 Latino.
Among missing adults, about one-sixth have psychiatric problems. Young men, people with drug or alcohol addictions and elderly citizens suffering from dementia make up other significant subgroups of missing adults.
About half of the roughly 800,000 missing juvenile cases in 2001 involved runaways, and another 200,000 were classified as family abductions related to domestic or custody disputes.
Only about 100 missing-child reports each year fit the profile of a stereotypical abduction by a stranger or vague acquaintance.
Two-thirds of those victims are ages 12 to 17, and among those eight out of 10 are white females, according to a Justice Department study. Nearly 90 percent of the abductors are men, and they sexually assault their victims in half of the cases.
To further complicate categorization of cases, the FBI designates some missing-person incidents—both adult and juvenile—that seem most dire as "endangered" or "involuntary."
For example, the agency deemed Taylor Behl, the 17-year-old college student missing in Richmond, Va., to be endangered. More than 100,000 missing persons, the vast majority of them children, are designated as endangered each year. About 30,000 are deemed involuntary.
Personal Safety
The largest obstacle to personal safety is you. Many people think "It can't happen to me" or "what's going to happen, is going to happen".
An attack against you or your family, a fire in your home or office, a potential fatal auto incident, or some other disaster can take place at any time. But you have the power to be IN CHARGE of what happens to you and your family by taking active responsibility for your own security.
Residential Security
- Use quality locks on all entrances, including service doors and gates.
- Don't leave keys "hidden" outside of your home.
- Keep doors locked even when you or family are at home.
- Install locks on your fuse boxes or power panel and other external power sources.
- If you have bars on your windows, review fire safety and escape routes with your family.
- If you have security alarms, check and use them.
- Keep at least one fire extinguisher on each floor, in addition to one in the kitchen.
- Regularly check smoke detectors and the replace batteries.
- Vary daily routines and avoid predictable behavior patterns.
- Know where your family members are at all times.
Security for Children
- Teach your children to never answer the door to strangers.
- Children should know local emergency phone numbers or how to dial 911.
- Children, even young ones, should know their name, address, and phone number.
- Caution teenagers about "blind dates" or meeting someone they do not know or someone the met on the internet.
- Let children know they should not give out personal information, such as home address, absence of adults, etc. over the phone or on the internet.
- Teach children to say no to strangers or even people they know if they are uncomfortable with the situation.
- Teach children how to get out of the house and where to go in case of emergency.
