Your child has been charged with a crime, why are you still here

In US, crimes is either misdemeanor (punishable with less than 1 year jail time) or felony (punishable with more than 1 year jail time).  see definition here http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/PE/htm/PE.12.htm  Your child is charged with a crime.  Depend on your child's career plan, this can be a minor issue (if he want to be an artist) or a serious issue (if he want to go to law school or medical school). Do not assume his top 1% academic record will automatically save him on this case.

1. Yes, it will affect his future.  Everytime he apply for a job, a school, he'll have to explain why he has this on his record.  In a competitive application this might make a difference. College cares about why someone might be missing school. 

2. Yes, even he is not convicted, he'll have to explain why he's charged. But a lawyer might be able to expunge the reocrd (if your son is not convicted) so that your son will not have to answer yes to the question "have you ever been charged". 

3.  the term is "truancy law" or broadly "education law".  This might be conflict of interest, but Ask your school for lawyers they have dealt with, it is important to find one that has done this before.  Interview several of them and pick the one you feel comfortable.  This is not hard case, a top lawyer from out of town won't help you here, you need a local lawyer. 

4.  Lawyer usually is paid by the hour.  I am not sure what is the rate in your area, but don't be surprised with $200/hr, with 40 hours to conclude a case.  Never agree to pay in full in the beginning.  Ask him/her to bill you as things progress.  Bills should be in 1/10 hour increment, e.g. Discussion with DA, 0.5 hours. etc. 

所有跟帖： 

• 感謝回複。中午下班後馬上去他學校。我不知道有多少可能學校或學區可以WITHDRAW -天天向上不怕難- ♀ (216 bytes) () 05/08/2014 postreply 10:29:30

• Talented kid -lexm5- ♀ (745 bytes) () 05/08/2014 postreply 10:51:31

• lexm5, many many thanks. -天天向上不怕難- ♀ (0 bytes) () 05/08/2014 postreply 11:27:43