No parent wants to think that they raised a bad kid. A teenager who faces criminal charges is not necessarily a bad kid either. Teenagers get into trouble sometimes, but it is not always the parents’ fault or because the teenager is prone to criminal activity. Some...
How can you talk to your teen about drunk driving?
As a parent, you do your best to protect your children. As children grow into teenagers, it can become more difficult to protect them from the world. Unfortunately, accidents are common among teenagers, particularly accidents that involve alcohol. Fortunately, Drive...
The complex process of juvenile criminal justice
Legal proceedings might not be exactly what you expect. If you are like most, you might think of the law as attorneys standing up and arguing in front of a judge. A strong courtroom advocate is often a valuable ally — especially in matters that may go to trial, such...
When can your child be tried as an adult?
Twenty-five years ago, at the height of the teenage “wilding” phenomenon sweeping the country, Virginia passed laws allowing juveniles under the age of 16 to face prosecution as adults when charged with allegedly committing numerous types of crimes. When convicted,...
Adult versus juvenile charges for juvenile crimes
If your child becomes involved in an illegal activity, you may believe that rehabilitation would be much more effective than punishment to deter bad behavior in the future. We understand that juveniles are different from adults on an intellectual, emotional and...
What are the steps in the juvenile justice system?
The Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice has outlined the process for administering cases as they move through the juvenile justice system. This process consists of three basic stages, starting with intake, moving through petition and detention and ending with...
