Special Information for Parents & Grandparents
Learning that your child or grandchild has been arrested or is accused of involvement with a criminal activity is a parents or grandparent's worst nightmare A child or young adult's entire life could be effected by the outcome of what seems like a minor charge. Consequences may include an arrest and jail processing, a prison sentence, fine, and the associated stigma of having a permanent criminal record and the possible loss of college entrance and scholarship opportunities.
Many times adults may try to encourage a child or young adult into fully cooperate with law enforcement prior to discussing the matter with an attorney. Children and young adults have the same rights as afforded to anyone else, and encouraging them to waive their rights may actually escalate the matter rather than putting and end to an investigation.
Examples of requests law enforcement may make to a parent or grandparent:
- To bring the child to the police station for questioning or an interview. This includes appointments with a school's "resource" officer
- To allow law enforcement to search the child's automobile or bedroom without a search warrant
- To answer questions about the child's whereabouts, friends, or other private business
You should always see to it that your child or grandchild has an opportunity to consult with an attorney looking out for their best interest prior to encouraging them to cooperate with a law enforcement investigation of themselves or before waiving any of their rights. The job of a police officer or investigator is not to work out the best possible outcome for your child or grandchild, it is to obtain evidence sufficient to obtain a criminal conviction and then to make an arrest. And if a young person gives up their rights, or is encouraged or coerced into making a statement against their own interests, it could make it more likely that they will actually be more vigorously prosecuted since the it is that much easier now to obtain a conviction.
Mr. Snell realizes that many young offenders, and their families, have special needs and interests. He has represented a variety of child and young adult defendants facing charges from underage possession of alcohol to armed robbery. He has found that it may be possible to negotiate a very favorable outcome for young offenders based on their age and lack of a prior criminal history. This may include Pre-Trial Intervention (PTI), where if completed, the charge is dismissed and the arrest can be removed from the records. Mr. Snell is able to represent children or young adults in all state courts, including Family Court proceedings.
