Potential Sentences For Indiana Juvenile Offenders
What kind of consequences could your child face after adjudication? Their age, their criminal background, and the nature of their charges will all impact the outcome of their court case. For example, what are the exact charges? Is the state alleging your child committed a delinquent offense, a status offense, or both? Potential sentences for delinquent or criminal charges include:
- Serving time in a juvenile detention facility.
- Supervised or unsupervised probation.
- Community service.
- Court-ordered treatment for mental health.
- Court-ordered treatment for substance abuse.
- Driver’s license suspension or revocation.
- Emancipation.
Status offenses have similar consequences but don’t include the risk of serving time in a juvenile facility:
- Supervised or unsupervised probation
- Placement in foster care
- Emancipation
- Court-ordered treatment for mental health
- Court-ordered treatment for substance abuse
- Driver’s license suspension or revocation
The Police Just Arrested Your Child: What Should You Do?
No matter what alleged crime the police have charged your minor child with, the moment you realize they’re going into custody is overwhelming. You feel anxious, upset, and maybe even guilty. However, it’s critical for you to put your emotions aside, stand tall, and consider what’s best for your child’s future.
Call An Experienced Juvenile Defense Lawyer In Indiana
The first step you should take after the police arrest your child is searching for a highly experienced Indiana juvenile defense attorney. Read through reviews, compare top-rated attorneys, and don’t be afraid to call the potential firms on your list and ask questions.
In fact, it’s imperative to hire an Indiana juvenile defense attorney with experience and knowledge of the criminal justice system for minors. It’s much different from the adult system and requires a unique set of legal skills.
At Worthley Law, we have helped hundreds of families navigate the murky waters of Indiana’s juvenile justice system. Don’t wait any longer to schedule a consultation with our legal team and discuss your child’s juvenile case. Once you retain us, we’ll start planning a defense strategy and do everything in our power to help bring your child home.
Bond Considerations
As a parent or guardian, you’ll need to make the tough decision to leave your child in custody or pay their bail. Bail for a minor comes in two forms: surety bonds and cash bonds.
Surety Bonds: If your child has a surety bond, you’ll pay 10% of the total amount to a bail bond agent. After you pay, if your child runs away or fails to show up for their court date, the bail bonds company will have to pay the court the total remaining amount of the bail. After that, you’ll have to reimburse the bail bonds agency in full. In fact, some bail bonds companies may not work with you unless you have enough collateral to cover the entire bail amount, such as your house or jewelry.
Cash Bonds: With cash bonds, instead of paying 10%, you’ll pay the county clerk the full fee. Upon doing so, your child will be able to come home with you.