Federal Law, don't us parents have the right to know if our child is being questioned at school by police?

Question

Yesterday 4 teenages, were pulled from class-rooms. They were told they would go straight to Juvinial Detention. If they withhold any information, by local police. No one got permission from parents for this line of questioning, to be done while at school.
These children didn't even know anything about what the police wanted information on. Isn't there a law to protect our kids? And make it the right of us as parents to know if they are being questioned, and by whom is questioning?

My son was pulled from class, last year. Questioned about drugs in someones home! {NOT OURS} just because his name was brought up as being over at someones house, during a weekend, and might have wittenessed some drug activity!? He's been questioned like this numbers of times in our area. PULLED OUT OF CLASS, without parent permission! Nor have we been contacted for things he's Omitted too, in the pricables office. Things that WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED about!!!
Yesterday, a friend of mine, her daughter had run away from her grandmothers house. Her friends (ages 12 to 16 years) were pulled from class-rooms and questioned about her where abouts! The police even went as far to say, if you don't give us the information we want, you'll go straight into Juvenile Detention! These kids have rights! #1 they had not a clue where this 16 yr old was!
#2 the police had no right questioning them without consent of a parent!
#3 These kids were scared, no info was know!POLICE BULLYING KIDS

Answer 1

As a Juvenile Officer (Sworn Police Officer) in Illinois, I can tell you that a "reasonable attempt" to contact parents or guardians must be made. A reasonable attempt does not mean sticking your head outthe window and yelling. I usually phone the residence, cell phone, or another relative. If I can not reach the p or g by phone I will send someone else to the house. If no contact was made however, no contact was made. There was an attempt. Unfortianately instead of releasing the child to a parent when I'm complete, w/ the process, I am now a $25.00 an hour babysitter. I juvenile does not need a parent present at time of questioning. The child however, does need the Miranda Warning. The child can chose not to speak. I lawyer MUST be provided for children under the ages of 14 in cases of rape and murder. To be honest most children we arrest (a town of 70,000) do not get questioned. This only happens in felony cases. We arrest alot of children... Most do not even want their parents to know what they did!

Answer 2

By law, if the child is being interrogated by school officials, police officers or anybody, the parents are to be notified. Why? Because the child could be scared and might be pressured to say something thats not true.because of fear. You have to be there so you can observe how they asked t he question and make sure they dont manipulate the child. Now, ask yourself this question: Do prisoners have the right to remain silence and get an attorney. So why can't a child have the right to remain silence and get their parents. Got it? The also need to defend themselves. They can't do it on their own. My child had a problem just like yours. The school got in trouble and I sued because they and the police interrogated my daughter. Another girl that was involved in the incident she blamed on my daughter when it was her that did it. She and my daughter had issues before. I was not called for this. The police wrote a report against my daughter and the school kicked my daughter out of the bus. She was 8 years old at the time. After getting on their case and suing,they apologized.They would take my daughter out of the classroom for 4 hours to bve interrogated every day and was missing class. You need to be there. I was at the school almost everyday

Answer 3

baalberith got it right. By Law minors are to be questioned with their parents present, but you did not mention how old the supposed juveniles were. The age where a child goes from minor to adult changes from state to state. In Texas you are an adult at the age of 17. So if the police pulled 4 17 year old teenagers out then no, the parents did not have to be notified.

Answer 4

Here in Canada, the only obligation police have to tell parents anything is if their child is being arrested or charged with something. There is no obligation for simple questioning. If they are suspects in a crime they will be informed of their rights to contact their parents or lawyers before questioning. I would never interview a child who is a suspect in something I plan on laying charges on because I like to do this on videotape and I like to have a parent present. It will increase the likely hood of getting the statements admitted at trial.
Here in my city, if I am planning on interviewing a young child at school (let say 12 and under) the school will always contact the parents and let them know. I will respect parents wishes on this unless there is a time factor issue at stake.

So....
In your case I think that the police were doing the job they were supposed to be doing. I think you need to contact the school board and find out if and what the policy is on this. If the principal violated the policy then he/she should be held accountable. I would also take what the kids have told you with a grain of salt, they have a tendency to over dramatize and twist things a little. We don't generally randomly select people to accuse of crimes, we have reason to believe that they were involved in some way. Contact the police officer directly and find out his/her side of the story.

Answer 5

If they were teenagers, police can question them without a parent's permission or knowledge, IF the child is not under arrest at the time.

Obviously, your child was into something he or she should NOT have been involved with. You need to have a serious talk with your child about (1) choosing better friends, and (2) staying out of trouble with the law.

Answer 6

First of all the school is responsible for this happening.
I think it is disgraceful that the school did not contact the parents before they were questioned. whether they knew anything or not, should not even be an issue. Even if they were guilty of something a child should have the same rights as an adult.

I say the school are totally wrong.

Answer 7

The school will say that student security is their business and that they do not have to notify parents if children are talked to by the police. Only if they are arrested. Perhaps its time to move or send your kids to a different school.

Answer 8

Authorities should not need parental permission for students to be questioned. If there was another potential Columbine waiting to happen, do you think that the authorities would wait to question students? Behavior in schools are getting out of control. There's no respect of authority anymore. Parents should tell their kids to behave and to stay out of trouble. That way they won't have to run in to any problems.

Answer 9

They are minors and it is against the law to question a minor without an adult family member present.I would sue the school and the Police Dept.

Answer 10

Minors must be questioned with parents present absent exigent circumstances....but you don't specify that they are minors? 16 yo is considered an adult in which case no you have no right notification or being present or anything.