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Coping With Legal Issues

When I started getting into trouble I became pretty acclimated to legal procedures. Calling my attorney and working out bail was just another way to spend a Saturday night. Unfortunately, the stiffer the charges, the more difficult it was to talk my way out of a bad situation. After so many charges, I found myself slapped with a long jail sentence, and I realized that I wanted to turn things around. Fortunately, my lawyer was able to walk me through yet another process, so that I could make the right changes. My blog discusses how to emotionally cope with legal issues so that you can start living a good life.

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Coping With Legal Issues

4 Ways Parents of Teens Can Avoid Legal Trouble

by Lillian Wheeler

Teenagers are notorious for getting themselves into trouble, even if it's small trouble that has only occurred because they were at the wrong place at the wrong time or simply hanging out with the wrong crowd. Even if you don't believe your teen could get themselves into trouble, you really never know since teens are so susceptible to peer pressure and, as they are still learning and growing, they are still vulnerable to making poor decisions. Unfortunately, this could lead to legal trouble that you, as the parent, would have to deal with.

Here are four ways this can be avoided:

Talk to Your Kids: First thing's first, you need to talk to your kids about the severe consequences of being involved in certain situations. This includes going to a party where drinking is involved, getting in the vehicle with someone who has been drinking, and even the way that they communicate online and through texting could be a problem. More and more often, we are seeing cases of online cyber bullying that has severe consequences and therefore, your child should not be participating or engaging in at all. 

Keep the Alcohol Locked Away: Many parents don't know this, but if their teen has been drinking inside of their home or even their friends they bring home, you, as the parent are responsible for anything that they do outside of the home while under the influence. This is why, even though you have talked to your child about the consequences of drinking, you should still keep the alcohol locked away as a responsibility to yourself and others. 

Look for Signs: If you notice any signs that your teen is getting into trouble, you should talk with them. If you feel that it's getting out of control or they need further help, consider counseling. Certain signs include spending too much time online, that is, not being engaged in any social activity away from the screens, as well as staying out too late, not listening to the rules of the house time and time again. 

Check Online Activity: While you don't want to completely invade your teen, you should be aware of what they are doing online. This could be done by talking with your teen, asking what websites they are using, and asking who they are talking to. Not only is this important for preventing legal trouble by ensuring that they are not engaging in any kind of illegal activity, but also for preventing issues with safety from talking to the wrong people. 

If your teen is facing any kind of legal trouble, it's important to contact a criminal defense lawyer, even if the issue doesn't seem dangerous enough to lead to criminal charges, you simply never know and it's important to protect your teen from damaging their future. 

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