Juvenile Defense Lawyer St. Charles, MO

Finding out that your juvenile child has been arrested can be extremely overwhelming and you may be wondering if you need the help of a juvenile defense lawyer serving St. Charles, Missouri. You might feel upset and confused about what to do or how to get them out of this situation. Before you panic, please consider the following information.

Call An Experienced Juvenile Lawyer As Quickly As Possible

It’s easy to become misled by police, or authorities, and choose not to call a juvenile defense lawyer for St. Charles, MO . You might even be told something like, “Don’t worry, we just want to ask him/her a few questions.” Or, “We would just like some honesty, and then you can go home.” In reality, whatever your juvenile child says can be used against him or her during court proceedings. You should not delay in consulting a St. Charles, MO juvenile defense lawyer for advice.

Talking with Police

As a general rule, your child should not talk with police unless a lawyer is present. It is the duty of a prosecutor to prove the elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. If the prosecutor can corroborate the crime with anything your child is saying, charges could be filed. Furthermore, there are many cases of police coercing children into admitting guilt even though they were innocent.

In interrogation rooms, hidden tape recorders and cameras may be used. If you are allowed to sit in with your child during the interview, the police may take a break to let you and the child communicate. During this time, these communications may be recorded.

If police do not want you present, they may go directly to the child’s school. If and when the child is brought to the police station, he or she may again be interrogated by a detective. It is not uncommon for a detective to tell the child that there is “a lot” of evidence against them. If they cooperate, it will look good and they might not get in as much trouble. The child might also be asked to write an apology letter to decrease the penalties. This is generally just a tactic used against the child to admit guilt.

Using a Public Defender

Depending on the state, a public defender will not be available until charges have been filed. If the case is only being investigated, you may not have access to one. The prefiling stage is critical and can impact the case in many ways. Hiring a juvenile defense lawyer who knows the St. Charles, MO courts as soon as possible may result in better chances of getting the case dismissed.

Benefits of a Juvenile Defense Lawyer

Preparation is absolutely key to defend a juvenile child successfully. Even if your child has not been charged with a crime, by hiring a juvenile defense lawyer in St. Charles, MO in the early stages, he or she can begin to understand the child’s social environment, upbringing, and version of the facts. A legal strategy can be mapped out which includes planning the most effective way to get him or her released. When you retain a juvenile defense lawyer in Missouri before your child goes to court, he or she may be able to accomplish the following:

1. Contact the district attorney (D.A.) and/or probation order prior to the petition being filed
2. Convince the D.A. or probation officer to not file the petition
3. Release the juvenile
4. Request the probation officer to informally supervise the child
5. Suggest rehabilitation or therapy
6. Ask the district attorney to not file charges
7. Request the D.A. to file lesser charges
8. Ask the D.A. to consider a punishment that does not include incarceration
9. Take the case to trial and fight to have all charges acquitted

If your child is being investigated, or has been charged with a crime, please call a juvenile defense lawyer serving St. Charles, MO from The Traffic Ticket Center.