McKinney Texas Criminal Defense Law Blog

Juvenile crimes are taken seriously in Texas. While adults know that children make mistakes and do things that they later regret, juvenile crimes are still punishable by law. The courts are generally understanding but will move to prosecute and convict minors who have committed crimes.

Officers are able to issue warnings for minor offenses instead of taking a child into custody. A warning notice copy will be sent to parents if that happens. With probable cause, however, an officer does have a right to take your child into custody.

If you have committed a crime and this is the first time you've done so, then you're a first-time offender. A first-time offense can be challenging in a lot of ways. You may have guilt about what happened or struggle to understand what charges you face.

This is when working with your attorney is a smart choice. Your attorney will help in many ways, starting by helping you understand the charges you face. Knowing those, the potential penalties and any alternative options you have can help you feel more secure in the future.

As a parent, you always want to be able to protect your child. But after they reach a certain age, you will come to realize that it is very difficult to know what they are doing and with whom they are spending time. Additionally, you will learn that it is impossible to control their behavior and actions. Conversely, attempts to control their actions will often provoke rebellious behavior. 

If you have recently learned that your teenage child is using and selling drugs, it's likely that you feel shocked, angry and upset. You may have had your suspicions for some time, but gaining confirmation of these troubling activities is very difficult. It's important that you think carefully about how to address the matter. The following are some things that you should consider when learning about your child's criminal activities. 

You know your child has some behavior issues. You have them in therapy and are working on positive reinforcement at home. Unfortunately, despite your efforts to provide the help and support your child needs, he or she made a mistake. 

You were nearly asleep when you got the phone call saying your child had been arrested in McKinney. You head to the police station hoping that the owner of the retail store where your child is accused of shoplifting won’t press charges. Unfortunately, that may not be the case and your child could face penalties that have serious and lasting consequences.