Protecting and Defending Minors in Parker and Surrounding Counties

Has your child been accused of a crime in Texas? I know this can be a scary time for you and that you have many questions. I also know that all your plans and dreams for your child now feel in jeopardy, and you’re not sure where to turn.

I began defending juveniles and minors because I saw how a good defense can shape the rest of their life. Whether it’s a minor infraction or a more severe crime, I can show you the options available to provide the best outcome for your family.

What Rights Do Juvenile Offenders Have?

For the most part, minors have the same rights as adults. There are, however, a few exceptions. Their lockers can be searched. There are also charges that only exist to punish juveniles, such as curfew violations or truancy (skipping school).

Plus, in Weatherford and surrounding areas, School Resource Officers (SROs) are common. Students are around law enforcement all day. SROs and other law enforcement can speak to juveniles at school as long as a school administrator is present. Your child needs to understand that they should ask for you to be present anytime an officer starts asking them questions.

While your child has the same rights as any adult, this doesn’t mean those rights are protected. It is important to get them a lawyer as soon as possible to ensure your child understands their rights.

How Does Law Enforcement Handle Juvenile Offenders?

Depending on the charge, law enforcement has wide discretion on how to handle minors who break the law.

Your child could be released with just a warning. Sometimes, law enforcement officials get juveniles into education and training programs to help deter this kind of behavior in the future. Other times, your juvenile will get probation. For the most severe offenses, they’ll be sent to a juvenile detention center.

Oftentimes, Child Protective Services (CPS) gets involved as well. This can bring up questions about their home life and create a family law issue  in addition to a criminal charge.

My goal is always to reduce or eliminate the young person’s punishment and keep families together. I work to ensure that any punishment is appropriate to the charge and not over-prosecuted. We want your child to be able to grow from this experience, not to get stuck with a conviction that could derail their hopes and dreams.

Give Your Child a Brighter Future With a Strong Defense

Let’s talk about your child’s situation. I want to hear their story, research all the facts of the case and then talk to you about what we can realistically do. Once I tell you all the options and possibilities, it’s up to you and your child to determine our next steps and to choose how we will fight for their future. Reach out to me today  to get started.