My son age 16 was charged with 2 misdemeanor burglaries, and 1 felony burglary (depends on the time of day or night) and 12 counts of conspiracy to commit the crimes. He was in actuality the look out for 3 burglaries into homes. He never entered the houses, he just shared in the property that was taken.
The other 2 boys that were with him were already on probation for breaking and entering, theft and only got a slap on the hand an a years probation for those crimes. For these crimes the only one that told the truth to the lying detective was my son. He had tried to kill himself and was in the hospital when the cop went to get him, did NOT marandize him, and did NOT let him have an attorney present. I still may/may not do something about this - we are looking into it.
What I can tell you is to tell you kid to KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT around any police. GET AN ATTORNEY OR A PUBLIC DEFENDER. You usually can't get a public defender until after an arraignment. (first time before the judge). The police will bring charges against your son, and the judge will tell him then if he decides to appoint a public defender (KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT) don't say ANYTHING to the judge unless he asks you DIRECTLY.
At this point, the JUDGE is the one who determines if your son is to go to juvenille jail. At that time the court may or may not arrange a hearing. If your son is under 13 he may only be kept in jail overnight and must have his arraignment in the morning through family court. IF it is decided that he is to be tried as an adult due to felony charges and the laws of the state he lives in he can either go to Juvenille Hall for Evaluation, Holding or get sent to the juvenille part of your local county jail separate from the adult inmates. IF he's older they can keep him in Department of Juvenile Justice/Juvenille hall or county for up to but not to exceed 95 days. Mine was kept 120 before they got him to a public defender and his hearing. That was wrong.
When the hearing came, it was up to the public defender to go to the prosecuting attorney (the guy for the cops/state/victim) and try to make a deal. If a deal can be made it's based on the number of times your son has ever been in trouble, the seriousness of the offense(s), and basically the mood of the prosecuting attorney towards your kid, the cop and the PD(Public defender)
My son who had never been in trouble before didn't get a little slap like the other two who once again got a slap. My son got charged with 2 felonies, and pleaded out on the consipiracy charges. The arresting officer had told us which ever kid told the truth? He would be there to help. When we called him to tell him when court was - he acted like he couldn't care less. He was a huge liar. My son took the rap for things he didn't do. My advice to him and all kids at this point may be wrong, but I would say don't tell the police A WORD without your attorney there.
Also depending on where you live - an attorney for what MY son was facing started at $15,000.00. When it was all over my son (whom they waited on purpose to turn 17 in jail hence the 120 days) is now a convicted felon. He has 1000 hours in community service, 6000.00 in fines to pay off, probation each month at a tune of $41.00 each visit (for nothing but checking in. this money does NOT go to the restitution)
I believe I would call your public defender office and ask them what can go on. Don't expect them to return calls either - they are over loaded. Our PD didn't even show up in court after giving us a 1 hour notice - he sent his secretary, legal-something or other. She was only there to open her mouth and say YES we accept the plea deal. It was okay. The felony my son was charged with carried a life sentence in SC. I was told by the PD that in SC you are better off to murder someone than to steal. I told him that my son NEVER entered the houses - the other two boys on probation did. Mine was the lookout. The younger of the three was 13 - he lied, and continues to lie and got a slap on the wrist. The other boy age 16, also on probation had 100 of his family members, preacher, and father *who does not live at home show up and all lied through their teeth to the judge and said he had never been in trouble, his mom and dad lived together, he was a productive member of the community and attended church 3 times a week (ALL LIES) - I muttered under my breath - well he must have broken into those homes after church.
He got probation and community service.
Both those boys were from the same neighborhood and we live a mile away. My son was told to stay away from the neighborhood. Both of those boys have been at my house twice since court. The last time DF told them he'd call the cop and let them know they were violating probation if they came back again. They were asked nicely NOT to come back the first visit - they as usual didn't listen. They were at our house because they didnt' see my truck - we think they were going to steel my sons bike. I should have let them and called the police.
I am sorry you are going through this. Department of Juvenile Justice did not change my son despite the fact that there was never enough food, he got no counseling, and he was beaten up, he had to wear other peoples underpants, anything he had like pictures or letters, were taken and sometimes flushed or ruined. (Guards look the other way and want no part in solving problems between inmates here) My son was put on medicine that I had told his caseworker caused him to be suicidal. When I called the prison to tell them - I was told that I was being "duped" and manipulated. I told them that my son had just called and said he could hang himself and no one would know. I got ahold of another guard in another unit, he went down and checked and sure enough the sheet was up. So they put him on suicide watch and I sent a nice letter to the caseworkers boss.
The only thing that has changed my son is the probation officer told my son that she has a work camp that makes Department of Juvenile Justice look like Disneyland and if he stepped out of line - BAM he goes back for 6 years. SIX YEARS - that means he would be 23 before he gets out of prison for something he did at 16. And THEN he would be on probation another 3 years to pay off his fines and do community service. Currently he is trying to find a job and get a GED and not living with us.
Good luck.
Hugs
Star
ps. Take care of you - please. Due to all the stress, the cops, the hospitalization, the attempted suicides, the lying detective, the lack of care at the jail? I had a stroke/heartattack. I was 42 years old. Please detach as much as possible. This could be a lesson for your son, even if your heart is saying "it won't be a lesson - you have to let it be one as much as possible."
What did chanv
W
2 burglary charges we are dealing with, 1 where DS took our next door neighbors/friends key from our bedroom and took 2 of his friends in their house and stole a PS3 and games and the other was doing over 20,000.00 damage with about 5 other kids(DS went on the roof, went through the roof hatch and let them all in) to the now defunct school in our town. Not really sure how much can really be done. I think this is pretty serious. And we live in Milwaukee County(not small, ya know?)
