How long will my son be in juvenile hall?

Question

My son thinks he's a gangsta. He's 17 and he basically thinks he doesn't have to obey law. He fought the law, and the law won.

He was caught shoplifting and was to pay a $400 fine. He didn't get a job until a month ago (even though he's known he had to pay the fine for 3 months) and says he isn't going to pay the fine. The money is due on the 20th of November, and I refuse to bail him out on this.

Assuming they issue a bench warrant for him, how long will it be before they pick him up?

How long will he spend in juve?

Will they give him an extension if he asks for one?

Will they come and arrest me instead?

Any help in knowing what to expect would be appreciated.

This is in Bucks County, Pennsylvania

Hmmmmm- I don't know hwat else I can do about being a parent. I've been dragging his sorry but to football, baseball, soccer, swimming since he was 6. Even took first aid so i could be on the field helping out. Ya can't smack a kid, or you go to jail. He's a football player and I'm 59 with a heart condition so physical confrontation isn't going to work out. My first son, who is 25, has none of these problems although when he was young, I was working 60-70 hours a week.

Whan a kid does what he wants, no matter what you say or do, there's very little recourse, ya knowHe fell in wiht a bad crowd at high school, they've all been to Juve, and they say it's no big deal.

Answer 1

I would contact the prosecutors office in the city/county and ask them about the extent to which you could be held responsible for reperations(or fines) in this case as sometimes that one can get back to the parent in cases where the person is a juvinille.

Typically with a bench warrent they don't really look extremly hard for someone though, if you happen to get pulled over or I.D.ed by a police officer then they will take you into custody for it though. Typically what would happen then is you would be booked and held till you either make bail, or until you meet a judge depending on what is decided when you are booked into custody and what not.

More often then not he could contact the public defenders office, or the prosecutors office and request an extension on his fine, typically this goes before a judge and payments or other repayment methods can be discussed. Given the fact he just got a job they will probably ask for partial payment of the fine($100 or there about), and then allow for the rest to be made in payments, which he could ask the court to allow $100 dollars per pay period. If he does this though inform him it would be in his best interest to make restitution, because this will be noted in the case jacket and judges get really touchy about failure to follow through on cases where they have shown leaniancy.

All and all honestly I would say you are fine, but like I said contacting the court is a very good decision as it can make things easier if this goes on. More often then not if you are over 16 in a case like this you are heald responsible as an adult(to a little lesser a degree). Also I would say if anything they would give him something other then Juve as those facilitys are often extremly crowded with offenders with worse offenses.

Hope this helps some, I am not really an expert on these things but I have known a few people that have had various run ins with law enforcement, and would have to say typically with things like this they are willing to give second chances.

Answer 2

They will issue a warrant. It will take weeks before they come and get him. You can bail him out or let him sit (it won't be Juve) in county jail until is hearing. He can ask for a reset based on he needs time to get an attorney, but he may not get one since this would be considered like a violation of probation. They may give him a few nights in jail. Like a slap on the hand the first time around.

Answer 3

Basically whatever one else has said, it'll be up to the judge, or district magistrate. I would say if your son acts like a thug and a gangsta in front of the Judge, he'll give the kid all that he can.

Sadly yes this is CYS coming back to haunt us it was designed to protect kids and yet he turns them into monsters that if you could correct them they wouldnt turn out to become.

For your sake hopefully Juve scares him straight, honestly your doing the right thing not baililng him out, that would only make matters worse.

Answer 4

You should have taken him to the woodshed a long time ago. I think it's probably too late now.. Let him see how jail is and he may change his mind. If you bail him out the next thing will be worse. Since you did not discipline him earlier I think it best to let the system teach him that it's not really cool to break the law. Remind him about Bubba and what Bubba is going to want.

Answer 5

1) That's not racism, that's discrimination. 2) It honestly sounds like your son has Downs syndrome, he sounds moronic. Down's Syndrome works with an inferior intelligence to others, well what kid with any decent common sense or superior intelligence would take the actions your son's taking. Your son sounds like a F U C K I N G retard that has an even more serious case of Mental Instability than the others do.

Answer 6

They may make him work it off on a work crew where he has to show up and work every weekend.
If he refuses he will be jailed.
If your son refuses to obey you anymore, to keep yourself out of trouble you can file him as a person at risk.
I don't know what to tell you...I hate it when kids think they are something that they are not. Sometimes the "Gangsta" types need to meet up with a real gangsta and get the crap beat out of them so they realize what they are really imitating.

Answer 7

Thats the thing about not being 18. Until you turn 18 there are no set punishments, everything is TOTALY up to the judge. If he does like your son, he will get a stiff penatly, if you son is respectful, he might not get any penalty.

Answer 8

First, it is not your fault, you know? Anyone crying out "bad parent" obviously has not raised one into adolescence. Kids are too empowered, and the agencies that were created to protected them, created monsters instead!

Second, it is hard to predict what a judge will say. They speak their own minds, but I am sure your child would not go to detention without stern words from the judge.

In my state, after they turn 16, they go to the adult court system, which freaks many of them out into never making more mistakes. You're doing the wise thing letting him learn the consequences of his actions. That is all you can do. Good luck

Answer 9

A lot depends on where you live. If he contacts the court, he should be able to get an extension. If he fails to pay the fine or contact the court, they will issue a bench warrant. They will arrest him the next time they have any contact with him. Inf he is kept at all it will be short stay depending on his record. I doubt they will arrest you for his crimes.

Answer 10

ok, i am from sc, 400 dollar ain't **** in the first place, 2nd there other thngs you can do if you don't have the money, for instance cummunity service, they can set that up, also you can ask for extension, but have to give some first, they give yhou another 30 days on the extension, they won't arrest you, and also mb juve would be good for him