What Will Happen to my Child in Houston Juvenile Court? A Police Officer says my child is being charged with a crime.
When
juveniles are charged with a crime, they are often taken into custody
by the police. Some times, the child is released to a parent or
guardian by the police. The parents are informed that their child is
being charged but they can take their child home when this happens. The
police will then send their information regarding the case to the
District Attorney over the next few days or weeks. Upon receiving the
information, if the District Attorney decides to accept charges on the
juvenile, a petition is filed with the juvenile courts. After it is
filed, a Deputy Constable
will come to your home and personally "serve" the child and his parents
with documents instructing them to appear in court on a particulate
date.
At the same time, the Harris County Juvenile Probation Department
begins their process of gathering information about your child and your
family. The probation department is responsible for preparing a
probation report for the court, the prosecutor and the defense
attorney. A probation office usually will call you or your child to
discuss his situation. The probation officer may call you early on in
the case even before the petition is filed with the court.
Before
you speak with the probation officer, it is critical that you and your
child consult with his or her juvenile defense attorney because you must
be careful to safeguard your child's rights. It is good to be
cooperative with the probation department but it is better to talk to a
juvenile defense lawyer first. Understand that the contents of the
probation report that is given to the court and the prosecutor to
consider is mostly based on the information which you have provided.
To discuss your child's case before you talk to the probation officer, call Board Certified Juvenile Attorney Jim Sullivan at
281-546-6428. Sullivan has been board certified since 2004 and has practiced juvenile law since 1994.
