What should I do if my child has been arrested?

The answer to this question depends on the nature and seriousness of the offense. The typical juvenile delinquent has 10 to 12 brushes with the law before a formal finding of guilt. In most cases, a juvenile's first offense is a misdemeanor that results in a citation being issued by the arresting officers and the juvenile being released into the custody of the legal guardian. For more serious offenses, the juvenile may be placed into custody at a juvenile detention center, commonly known as Juvenile Hall, pending a court hearing. In either case, the juvenile will be assigned an attorney by the court. With the advise of this attorney, the juvenile can either plead guilty to the charges or request a trial. If the juvenile is then found guilty, it will be up to the judge to determine proper disposition of the juvenile. This could be anything from conditional release to the legal guardian, probation, placement with the Department of Children's Services, or mandatory placement in a detention center.

It is important to be aware that these are very general guidelines on the legal process and each case is handled differently, based on the circumstances of the offense, background of the juvenile, and parental involvement. Please keep in mind that court proceedings vary from state to state. If your child has been arrested you must consult with your attorney in order to make the best decision on a course of action. For more detailed information you can visit the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention web site. It is equally important that you take this incident as a warning sign that your child is in need of help. Do not expect that this problem will go away on it's own, or that your child will just grow out of it. The main purpose of any judicial proceeding is to provide the juvenile with the services and supervision needed to address the circumstances which led to the juvenile's behavior. It is often the result of escalating problematic behavior, which if caught early can be redirected to a more positive path.