Trouble with law enforcement can happen to anyone at any age. You may have gone most of your life so far without much interaction with police, but you may have recently learned that your college-aged child has landed in trouble with police. As you try to make sense of the many emotions you likely feel regarding this situation, you may also wonder what your child will go through during the arrest process.
Typically, a set of steps take place during an arrest. This information may help you determine what your child will face in the coming hours or days after police take him or her into custody. Additionally, this information may prove useful to you, your child, and his or her legal counsel to determine whether officers acted inappropriately during the arrest.
What to expect
Though you may not be able to be there with your child while he or she goes through the stages of the arrest, it is still a good idea to know what is taking place. The common steps involved in an arrest include:
- An officer should explain your child’s Miranda Rights to him or her, including the right to remain silent, the right to an attorney and that anything your child says could be used in court.
- An officer may frisk your child before actually taking him or her into custody. After the arrest, officers may search his or her personal belongings, including your child’s vehicle if applicable.
- Your child may have to sign an inventory of his or her personal belongings taken by officers.
- Officers will then book your child, and that process will involve obtaining personal information from your child, taking fingerprints and photographs.
- If an officer fails to book your child within a reasonable amount of time after detainment, it may be necessary to determine whether the police are unlawfully holding your child.
After the initial arrest and booking, your child may have the opportunity to post bail or bond. This particular aspect may interest you because your child may need you to help provide the necessary funds for bail. However, the judge must first set the terms of the bail.
Having the right help
Your child’s arrest may have undoubtedly thrown you off track, and you may wonder how you will handle this predicament. It may help you and your child to discuss the situation and the details of your child’s arrest with a knowledgeable Ohio attorney who can explain available defense options and handle other related matters.
