The following information is not intended to be a complete summary of juvenile law in Iowa.

Being charged with a crime as a juvenile can have a significant impact on your child's future. Whether or not your child committed the crime for which he or she is accused, you should retain an experienced criminal defense attorney to aggressively defend your child and protect his or her rights.

In Iowa, you must retain an attorney if your child is charged with a crime. You should do this as soon as possible, to ensure your child's rights are protected. Neither you, nor your child should discuss the matter with the police, teachers, or anyone else, until after you have sought counsel from a criminal defense attorney who has experience with juvenile delinquency crimes. Anything you say can be used against you or your child.

I understand your desire to do what is in the best interest of your child. It is never in the best interest of the child to be convicted of a crime. Juvenile delinquency is unique because a minor can be charged as adults in certain situations, and can automatically be charged as adults if they are within two years of being an adult and charged with a violent crime or a weapons offense.



__________________________________________________________________________________________

Disclaimers:

Information on this web site cannot be construed as legal advice, and you are advised to seek legal counsel and not rely on this or any other Website. Use of this web site does not create an attorney/client relationship and should not be viewed as creating such a relationship.

The determination of the need for legal services and the choice of a lawyer are extremely important decisions and should not be based solely upon advertisements or self-proclaimed expertise.

A description or indication of limitation of practice does not mean that any agency or board has certified such lawyer as a specialist or expert in an indicated field of law practice nor does it mean that such lawyer is necessarily any more expert or competent than any other lawyer. All potential clients are urged to make their own independent investigation and evaluation of any lawyer being considered.

In the event a lawyer’s communication seeks to advise the client of litigation, the client is advised that the filing of a claim or suit solely to coerce a settlement or to harass another could be illegal and could render the person so filing liable for malicious prosecution or abuse of process.