They Took My 14 Year Old Son on Friday!

[justasmuck]

Illinois, Winnebago County.

PLEASE HELP. I came home about an hour late from work. I was just blocks away when I got a phone call from a Deputy Sheriff. He said that they had arrested my 14 year old son on a warrant. He had forgotten his key at school and somebody called the Sheriff because he was looking in our windows trying to get in. He was arrested because he never showed up for a court date in July when he was living with his irresponsible and neglectful mother. Two months prior he had broken a window in an abandoned building which has since been torn down. He had to perform community service, which he did. He was supposed to go to court in July, which he nor I had no idea about. So he’s been sitting in Juvenile Detention since Friday!!! He has court tomorrow! They may or may not let him go!!! They won’t let me see him or talk to him!!! It’s their policy. PLEASE HELP WITH ANY CONSTRUCTIVE REPLIES. Thank you.What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?

 

[Zigner]

Illinois, Winnebago County.

PLEASE HELP. I came home about an hour late from work. I was just blocks away when I got a phone call from a Deputy Sheriff. He said that they had arrested my 14 year old son on a warrant. He had forgotten his key at school and somebody called the Sheriff because he was looking in our windows trying to get in. He was arrested because he never showed up for a court date in July when he was living with his irresponsible and neglectful mother. Two months prior he had broken a window in an abandoned building which has since been torn down. He had to perform community service, which he did. He was supposed to go to court in July, which he nor I had no idea about. So he’s been sitting in Juvenile Detention since Friday!!! He has court tomorrow! They may or may not let him go!!! They won’t let me see him or talk to him!!! It’s their policy. PLEASE HELP WITH ANY CONSTRUCTIVE REPLIES. Thank you.What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?

Do you have a legal question?

 

[justasmuck]

Yes, what should I do legally!?

 

[Zigner]

Yes, what should I do legally!?

Speak to an attorney. Show up in court for your child tomorrow. Stop blaming the child's mother for your child's criminal behaviour.

 

[justasmuck]

Speak to an attorney. Show up in court for your child tomorrow. Stop blaming the child's mother for your child's criminal behaviour.

Seriously? Maybe you should know what you are talking about before you type something like that. Obviously you have know idea that I spent every penny of my life's savings on an attorney to rescue my son from his NEGLECTFUL and ABUSIVE alcoholic mother who wants nothing to do with him and hasn't spoke or seen him in months.

So I posted here looking for helpful advice. I should have know I was dealing with idiots who have nothing better to do with their time than to look down from their pedestal and pass judgment on something they know nothing about.

Oh and by the way, "behaviour" is spelled behavior. Buy a dictionary.

 

[anearthw]

How was your son unaware that he had court? He was likely released with a "promise to appear" document which he would have probably signed, there would be a court date and location right at the top.

Yes, mother is irresponsible for not forcing him to go, but I don't think your son is 100% truthful that he was totally unaware of a court date.

Zigner is correct that you need to speak to a lawyer TODAY and show up with him in court tomorrow. Dress him up nicely and give him a very stern lecture about how to properly act and behave in the court. Be prepared that he will be asked by the judge why he did not abide by the document he very likely signed which he promised to appear in court in July.

 

[stealth2]

Seriously? Maybe you should know what you are talking about before you type something like that. Obviously you have know idea that I spent every penny of my life's savings on an attorney to rescue my son from his NEGLECTFUL and ABUSIVE alcoholic mother who wants nothing to do with him and hasn't spoke or seen him in months.

So I posted here looking for helpful advice. I should have know I was dealing with idiots who have nothing better to do with their time than to look down from their pedestal and pass judgment on something they know nothing about.

Oh and by the way, "behaviour" is spelled behavior. Buy a dictionary.

I'll start with your spelling lesson - you're wrong. Behaviour is a legitimate spelling in ENGLISH. So zip it.

As for your kid... So NEITHER of you knew he had to go to court and didn't? Really? Really?

And if you don't like the advice you're being provided FOR FREE by VOLUNTEERS? Go PAY a lawyer.

 

[justasmuck]

Is the extent of his criminal past just breaking a window?

Yes, that's it. He broke a window in a abandoned building that was being torn down. As punishment, he performed community service last May.

 

[anearthw]

Yes, that's it. He broke a window in a abandoned building that was being torn down. As punishment, he performed community service last May.

Okay, so the community service was completed before his July court date? Do you know why he had another court date AFTER the completion of his community service?

 

[justasmuck]

I'll start with your spelling lesson - you're wrong. Behaviour is a legitimate spelling in ENGLISH. So zip it.

As for your kid... So NEITHER of you knew he had to go to court and didn't? Really? Really?

And if you don't like the advice you're being provided FOR FREE by VOLUNTEERS? Go PAY a lawyer.

Will do, since your so called advise is worthless.

Definition of BEHAVIOR
1a : the manner of conducting oneself
b : anything that an organism does involving action and response to stimulation
c : the response of an individual, group, or species to its environment
2: the way in which someone behaves; also : an instance of such behavior
3: the way in which something functions or operates

 

[stealth2]

Okay, so the community service was completed before his July court date? Do you know why he had another court date AFTER the completion of his community service?

Probably so that the court was provided the documentation that he'd completed his sentence and the case would be closed. That's pretty standard.

 

[anearthw]

Probably so that the court was provided the documentation that he'd completed his sentence and the case would be closed. That's pretty standard.

Thanks.

And again impossible to believe that the child "forgot" about this, I'm sure it was clearly explained to him. 14 year olds are great at pretending things will go away if they ignore it Yes, mom is wrong for not bringing the child but that anger is misdirected - the whole point of community service and a subsequent court date is to make junior start to be accountable for his bad behaviour cool.

 

[anearthw]

And OP do you know if the July court date is absolutely related to this community service? Somehow I wouldn't be surprised if there was any other issue/additional criminal act involved.

 

[justasmuck]

I would think that the judge will let him go into your custody (if you have guardianship--bring any papers to that effect) ... if he wishes to do anything further.

Thank you, very sincerely, for your constuctive help. Finally.

 

[Zigner]

For the record, I know that the way I spelled behaviour is just as correct as behavior. I prefer to spell it the way I did for stylistic reasons...it just looks better to me