Teaching Children About Being Arrested

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Among the many things parents hope their children never have to go through is being placed under arrest by law enforcement.  But if the current national situation has taught us anything, it's best to be prepared for the unexpected.  And unfortunately, the possibility of having a child experience a police arrest isn't remote.  Studies estimate that 16 to 27 percent of children have been arrested at least once by the time they turn 18.  That number jumps to between 25 and 41 percent for young adults under the age of 23.  Teaching children and young adults about what steps to take should they find themselves in handcuffs can save them a lot of hassle. There should be no doubt for parents: police can and will arrest your children for minor offenses, and they may not even notify you.  Children can be interrogated by the police without a guardian present, without knowing what to do.  Teaching children what to do before any of this happens could prevent common criminal defense mishaps.  First, it is important to teach your children that if they find themselves under arrest, they should insist that the police contact you and allow them to speak with you.  As soon as a parent or guardian is notified, actions can be taken to benefit the detained child. Sometimes though, police will refuse or be unable to get in contact with a parent or guardian.  In these circumstances, children should be taught to request an attorney.  Requesting an attorney should stop or prevent any police interrogation designed to incriminate.  Children placed under arrest may be confused and overwhelmed with the situation and may not know or remember their basic rights.  However, with prior teaching, they should be able to remember the simple phrase "I want an attorney".  Should your child feel uncertain about anything during an interrogation, they should use that phrase to exercise their legal rights. As soon as a parent becomes aware of their child's situation, an experienced criminal defense attorney should be hired.  There are many reasons that hiring a private defense attorney is the best course of action.  The Law Offices of Scott Warmuth provides expert legal advice to anyone who has been placed under arrest and faces criminal charges.  We offer free consultations, so call us ASAP at 888-517-9888.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]