Criminal offenses carry a stigma. However, not everyone charged with an offense is a bad person who is beyond redemption. It just isn’t as simple as that.
Nearly a million people under the age of 18 are arrested every year in the U.S., with many of them simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time or hanging around with the wrong crowd. As a parent, your top priority is keeping your child on the straight and narrow. It may help to know some of the more common offenses that teens are accused of.
Drug offenses
There’s a lot of pressure on teens to succeed and build a career for themselves. They are also on a quest to find out exactly who they are. Depending on the influences they have in their lives, such as friend groups and role models, they may be tempted to have new experiences. Unfortunately, this can come in the form of illegal drugs. It only takes one rash decision to cave in to peer pressure and potentially do something that is unlawful.
Disorderly conduct
Teens tend to enjoy letting their hair down with friends, and there is nothing wrong with this. Nonetheless, there can be a fine line between having a good time and disorderly conduct. Messing around with friends on a night out could result in charges such as vandalism, theft and even assault. For instance, a group of intoxicated teens may find it funny to steal a sign from a store. While they are likely to regret the next day (and may not even remember doing it), the damage has already been done and criminal charges are a possibility.
All individuals, including teens, are innocent until proven guilty. If your teen is facing criminal charges, seeking legal guidance will help them to obtain the best possible defense.