Parental Responsibility in DeKalb County Juvenile Defense Cases

Parents bear a high level of responsibility for their children, including taking reasonable steps to prevent their children from engaging in criminal acts while living in their homes. Under Georgia law, parents can face significant penalties when their children engage in criminal activity. 

As part of the defense process, it is important to understand parental responsibility in DeKalb County juvenile defense cases and how it can impact both the progression and potential outcome of the case. 

Parental Responsibility in Juvenile Defense Cases

As part of a juvenile defense case, parents are often responsible for advocating for their children and ensuring that they are in a position to accurately present their side of the case. Parents may need to work closely with an attorney and ensure that their children have access to the legal support they need to progress with the case. 

Furthermore, parents may need to provide relevant evidence for juvenile defense cases in DeKalb County. For example, they may need to present evidence of a child’s alibi or show that a child could not have committed a specific crime. 

Parental Liability Following a Juvenile Criminal Conviction

Because parents bear significant responsibility for their children, they may also be held liable for the criminal or civil acts committed by a minor. Penalties may include:

• Counseling alongside their children
• Parenting classes or ongoing parenting education
• Financial responsibility, including up to $10,000 in damages and court costs

Parents can also face misdemeanor charges for their children’s criminal actions if they are held criminally negligent, meaning the parent’s negligent actions contributed directly to the child’s criminal acts. 

What Constitutes Parental Negligence in Juvenile Crimes?

Understanding parental negligence—whether a parent may bear some responsibility for a child’s actions—is key to many juvenile defense cases in Dekalb County. Parental negligence in juvenile crimes can take several forms, such as:

• Failure to adequately supervise a child
• Facilitating or encouraging a crime in some way
• Providing access to dangerous items like weapons
• Failing to address delinquent behavior, like ongoing absences from school

When parents fail to take responsibility for their children, it can significantly increase the risk of children engaging in criminal activities. When teens receive adequate supervision and support from their family unit, they are much less likely to commit crimes, which is why the courts hold parents liable when they behave negligently in caring for their children.

Talk to a DeKalb County Attorney to Discuss Parental Responsibility Juvenile Defense Cases 

Understanding parental responsibility in DeKalb County juvenile defense cases is critical to ensuring a positive outcome for minors accused of crimes. It can also help parents determine their next steps and what penalties they can face when their children are convicted of crimes. 

Working with a lawyer could help parents learn more about the juvenile court system and what they can expect if their children face criminal convictions. Contact Robert James Trial Attorneys to discuss you and your child’s legal options.