Location: Virginia, USA.
Recently a detective came to our house looking for our son. He was out of town with his grandparents, however. The detective said it was regarding an abandoned house in the neighborhood that some kids had entered, and another child that he talked to gave our son’s information to him. He said he’s investigating it, and “doesn’t think it’s a big deal” and wants to ask some questions. He’s going to come back.
Whether or not my son has done anything wrong is not the issue. I feel uncomfortable with a detective asking my child any questions and I’m not sure what we should do. I don’t know if there are charges being brought against him, that wasn’t mentioned. We talked to another family in the neighborhood who hasn’t been contacted by the detective yet but our sons are friends and they said they will have their lawyer on retainer for this. We don’t have a lawyer or money to retain one.
Any help or advice is appreciated.
Comments
You advise your son to absolutely, positively, without exception, to not communicate at all with the officer. Police are allowed to lie, and, “not a big deal”? If that were true, he wouldn’t be coming to your house. Let the police try to make the case without the help of your son. Remember, none of us ever has to submit to police questioning. And it can’t be used to help us, only need to hurt us.
>and I’m not sure what we should do.
You, and your son, should politely decline to participate in an interview or answer questions. And should get a lawyer if they arrest him.
Don’t let him talk to the detective. He will go away.
Under no circumstances should you allow this detective to talk to your son. This is likely a fishing expedition – if they had anything concrete they would have charged him with something already. Maybe your kid was there, and maybe this other person is just throwing out names to try and keep himself out of trouble. But unless it was a serious crime, you’re much better off handling any needed discipline on your own end. And even if that happens to be the case, your son still shouldn’t talk to any police without his own lawyer present.
Never talk to the police without a lawyer.
Detective doesn’t come out for “not a big deal.” Get your kid a lawyer.
Lawyer told me not to talk to you.
Get a lawyer.
NAL.
Cops lie. All. The. Time.
I tell both of my kiddos to never talk to cops. Period. If one wants to ask them questions their only answer is “my dad told me not to say anything to you unless he’s here”.
Figure out what your son knows and go from there. Typically you would be present when he is questioned.
The 5th amendment gives him the right to remain silent. He should do so.
Lawyer. Former Prosecutor and Judge Advocate General. Never speak to law enforcement. NEVER NEVER NEVER. It cannot be used against you (keeping mouth shut) but speaking to them will 10000000000000% be used against. BTW my saying always was that if I couldn’t convict without a confession. I had no business bringing the charge.
Invoke the 5th Amendment and get a lawyer while you’re at it.
NAL, but as a former teenager, one’s name name can be tossed into snitch situation by mistake/mistaken ID….