If you have just received a phone call from the police informing you that your teenage child has been arrested and is being held at your local station, it’s important that you keep your composure. You will most likely be angry, upset and concerned, but you need to stay calm to deal with the situation as effectively as possible.Don’t rush to judgement, either of your child or the police officers who arrested him.
You need to act quickly and go to where your child is being held, but you should find out more information about the situation before taking any actions beyond this.;
, Once you receive the call you should head to the station straight away. You need to try and find out as much information about the arrest and the circumstances around it as possible. Try and speak to your child face-to-face, but understand that you have limited rights. You will generally be able to speak to your child before he is interviewed, but you don’t have a federal right to be present during the interview.


The rules vary by state, and some states do require consultation with parents for questioning.
Your child has a right to have a lawyer present, but not necessarily to have a parent present.
In most instance it is at the discretion of the investigating police officer, whether a parent is allowed to be present., You will probably be angry and upset with your child, but it’s important that you act calmly and get professional legal help. Don’t try to act as a lawyer or do anything which might encourage your child to incriminate himself. The best rule is not to say anything until you have a lawyer present.Well-meaning parents can hurt their child’s case by inadvertently waiving their rights, or agreeing to a search of their home unnecessarily.Even if you think your child has done something wrong, you shouldn’t make him talk to the police and confess to anything.
The police may have a very weak case, and a criminal record can have a big impact on the rest of your child’s life., If the police intend to charge your child with a crime, you should not hesitate to get professional legal help. You should hire an attorney who is a specialist in Juvenile Law. A Juvenile Law attorney will be more focussed and experienced in dealing with teens, and will work towards finding a solution that is in the best interests of your child.


This could include a drug treatment programme, counselling, or something else.
Criminal law tends to put these elements secondary to the punishment of the offender., If you have any information that may help your child’s case, you should be sure to share this with your attorney as soon as possible. The attorney needs as much information as possible to best argue your child’s case. For example, if you know of witnesses that could support your child, you should inform the attorney immediately.


If your child has a learning disability or mental health problem, explain this carefully to the attorney.The resolution to a case will take into account these factors. Even if you think it’s not relevant, give your attorney the information, and discuss how to proceed with her.
 One thing you can do which might help your child if the case continues and ends up in court, is to gather together documentation and reports that testify to your child’s character. Try to find records of your child’s achievements and certificates. Collect all his school report cards, and think about who to contact to ask for character reference letters. You could ask teachers, people from the local church, employers and neighbours.


Be careful about how you approach the character reference requests. You will have to be honest and explain what you need them for.
You will often be asked to submit school report cards to court in any case.
Do not take it upon yourself to write to a judge about your child, or submit any documents directly.
Always consult with your attorney and follow her advice on what is appropriate and what isn’t., Your child will most likely be released on bail and you need to take the time to talk through everything with him. It might be painful and difficult, but it’s important that you confront the issue head on and try to work out a way forward together. How you react to the situation can have a big impact on how your child moves on. Try to talk as directly as possible about any underlying issues that may have contributed to criminal behaviour.


Say something like, "This is a serious situation, and I need you to explain to me how we got here."
It’s important that he understands the seriousness of the situation.
If your child finds it hard to talk to you about it, encourage him to talk to a trained counsellor.
Sometimes people find it easier to explain their emotions and problems to a stranger., Being arrested is a difficult experience and your child will be feeling scared and uncertain, even if he doesn't appear to be. It's important that you find the right balance between ensuring he understands the seriousness of the situation and takes responsibility for his actions, and reassuring him that there is a way through this.


Explain that you will support him and help him to turn things around.
Say something like, "You've messed up, but you can put it right and learn from the experience."
Reassure him that you still love him, but explain how his actions are hurting you.
If he comes to realise the impact of his actions on you, it might help him to change., It’s important that you take on your responsibilities as a parent and understand that non-custodial sentencing is to a significant extent reliant on the parents. You have to work together with your child to ensure that he sticks to whatever programme he has been assigned to. It could be a drugs treatment programme, a schedule of counselling appointments, or community service commitments.


All programmes will require active participation, and if he fails to attend he may be remanded in custody.
Often the parent will be required to attend these programmes with her child, so it’s crucial that you work together to get through it.Try to think of it as a chance to correct mistakes before the consequences get too severe.
 As well as working to correct any criminal behaviour and seeking help for any drug or alcohol related problems, it’s important that your child learns about his rights when arrested by the police. For whatever reason, your child may be arrested again. Acting calmly and with a full knowledge of how to react can make a big difference. A repeat offence is generally much more serious than a first offence.


Make sure your child understands that he must request to speak to a lawyer before speaking to the police.
He should understand that a police officer can act as if he has more information than he actually does.
He must recognise that everything he says to the police can be used against him. Something that seems harmless at the time can look different in a court.
As a rule, don’t talk to police before speaking with a lawyer.
Stay calm.
Find out what’s going on.
Don’t attempt to act as a lawyer.
Hire an attorney.
Share information with your attorney.
Gather documents that support your child.
Address the issue.
Reassure him.
Stay supportive and work together.
Ensure your child knows his rights.
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