Children and teens face different consequences than adults do for violating state laws. The juvenile justice system is different from the adult criminal justice system. State authorities and local programs try to address the issues that may have contributed to...
Your child may post a meme or drop a sarcastic line in a group chat. By morning, you may get a call from the school or law enforcement. Online humor can read differently once it leaves the original audience. In Florida, authorities may treat safety-related posts as...
Vehicle theft often constitutes grand theft. Instead of being a simple misdemeanor, the theft of a vehicle could lead to felony charges. Most of the time, the value of a vehicle is above the cutoff for grand theft, which is $750. Even if the value of the vehicle is...
High school students sometimes make missteps. Even if a young person's mistake doesn't rise to the level of criminal charges, they could lead to violations of codes of conduct at a child's school. Learning about such actions can feel like a gut punch, leaving parents...
When teenagers or young college students break the law, parents are often very surprised. Not only are they concerned about the young person’s future, but they don’t understand why their child would break the law in the first place. This isn’t something that they ever...
As a parent, you may have taught your child to stand up for themselves. But what happens when standing up to a bully leads to an injury? In Florida, the line between self-defense and assault can be blurry, especially for minors. If your child retaliates against a...
According to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, half of teenagers in the U.S. have abused a drug at least once. In Florida, these kids report using substances like marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamines in the last year, but note that the statistics do...
When your child faces the daunting prospect of the juvenile justice system in Florida, it can feel like navigating uncharted waters. As a parent, your mind races with questions, concerns and the overwhelming urge to protect your child. You're not alone in this...
As you explore cities, you see colorful murals, thought-provoking graffiti and, unfortunately, acts of vandalism. But have you ever stopped to think about the difference between urban art and vandalism? It is a distinction that can be blurry, and it is crucial to...
The things a child can do with a phone are almost endless: They can watch videos online, play games and even access emergency services. While it is important to teach the significance of 911 in emergencies, some may make prank calls without understanding that it could...
