There’s no argument that kids and teenagers are our future. Passing the torch to them means instructing them and preparing them for their lives, and at times it can mean protecting them. Long Island is filled with people, and a large number of them are teenagers. Among those teens, some poor choices are simply going to be made no matter how much a parent may try to help their teen make the right ones.
Being charged with any kind of crime can lead to serious consequences in a child’s life. Even the kind of charges that are often thought of as being ‘minor’ can have a major impact. Things like shoplifting, simple possession, and DWI can all seem like minor infractions but when you look at the bigger picture, they’ll be incredibly harmful to a teen’s future. Consider the impact these charges can have:
- Jail – Teens rarely go to jail for any extended length of time, but could depending upon the charge and their age. But even serving time in a juvenile detention center can have a profound impact on their lives and their mental outlook.
- Fines – Heavy fines can make it hard for teens and their parents to recover financially. Fines are very common with minor charges, and can have a big impact on your teen’s life.
- Record – This is the big one, the main reason that it’s important to protect a teenager’s future from criminal charges. A criminal record will influence everything from college acceptance to finding employment to securing a loan and more. Simply put, having a criminal record will have a tremendously negative impact on a teenager’s future.
It’s not hard to understand just what kind of influence a criminal charge will have on any teenager’s future. It can quite literally destroy their plans, and a single poor mistake shouldn’t always have that kind of an effect on your child and their life. As such, it’s important to take steps to protect them if they’re facing criminal charges.
A good attorney can help provide a defense that will get your child a better future. Whether it’s an outright non guilty verdict, a reduced sentence thanks to a plea agreement, or something else, lawyers work to help ensure that your child’s future is as bright as it can be even when facing a serious criminal charge. There are no guarantees, but having the right defense is an important step that can have a big impact on your teen’s future.