Do you need lawyers for Juvenile court?

[Jazmommie]

we have to go in a week & a half--what do we do?

For delinquent behavior--snuck out with a friend (no longer ) & an older aquaintance--drank some vodka-got seen by deputy--who got other 2 then came looking for our ds--at 2:30 in the am--he came home & had to go to the station -then came back home with dad.

He got expelled from public school for another problem the week before--so he is a habitual????
Compulsory attendance was broken for 2 weeks while we waited on the expulsion-so that is on the papers also.
He is now in a private christian school doing well by the way --but I am scared of what they could do.
Thanks for the advice in advance.

[MsMoMpls]

No you don't need a lawyer at the first hearing. If your son pleads not guilty, then they will talk to you about getting one for the next hearing or the trial. Most things like this get handled as "admit your guilt and your sentence will be..." I would expect very little. A fine, some community service.

One thing to know... your son may talk to a county lawyer but he has a right to talk alone. At least in Minnesota, you have no rights as his parent. Burned me up the first time a lawyer and my son made decisions without even talking to me. I would encourage your son not to agree to anything without talking to you.

We went to court many times with my oldest. I also ran a group home for teenage boys with serious behavior problems. Honestly, I have never seen a judge give a kid a consequence that was strong enough. They cut the kids way too much slack.

[Jazmommie]

Thanks -I appreciate the reply greatly.

We are hoping for community service or probation at the most.

We have made changes in his life -as has he -(hair cut,new school,new friends,more family time )-I pray it will be ok.

[Irishmommy]

I hope things go well.

[Red]

If you're going to court, you should talk to a lawyer.


That said, you're doing all the right things, keeping him in school etc. Usually, the courts want to offer support to parents to continue getting the kid on track. He won't get any time, or be taken from you, if that's your worry. (Not knowing why he was expelled could change things. Did he hurt anyone? Carry a weapon?)

By the way, I raised one who was always in trouble, and 4 who never were. There's more to it than good parenting. Don't be hard on yourself.

[kathywiehl]

When I was 15 I was caught by the police drinking with a few friends at around 2 am. When we went to court, the judge basically reprimanded me and sentenced me to spend a day in a rehabilitation hospital and live the life of someone who had a head injury due to drinking and driving. We had to meet the patients, eat our food purreed through a straw and ride around in a wheelchair.

The honest truth was that it did nothing for me. I found it quite entertaining and interesting and I probably went out and drank that night.

But to answer your question, I didn't need a lawyer and I don't think having one there would have done any good unless I was going to plead not guilty.

[Jazmommie]

well it went ok--got a pretrial diversion program --community service & an evaluation with a counselor.
After paying 110 .00 and 6 months time -it is off his record.

Whew!!

[MsMoMpls]

Glad it went well. It can be nerve wrecking... I remember.