Posts Tagged ‘marijuana’

Social Media a Forum for Teens and Drugs?

Feb
21
Simms, on the topic of  Drugs
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Social media can be fun, interesting and even useful. Sometimes it can lead to problems, particularly for juveniles who don’t realize the dangers involved in social media like Facebook and Twitter.

Photo: Randy Pertiet

Watch What You Tweet

A couple of Utah teens are now feeling the repercussions of their Twitter time. The girls were arrested after one of their parents went through her daughter’s phone and found out about a marijuana get-together planned by the two girls and an 18-year-old male.

Police intercepted a text from the man to the girl’s phone and arranged to have him pick up both girls in front of their middle school. When the man arrived, police arrested him, even though he said he believed the girls were 16. After searching the man’s vehicle, he was charged with multiple crimes, including contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The girls allegedly were both in possession of a small amount of marijuana and are being investigated.

Don’t be a Bystander in Your Kid’s Life

The parents in this situation deserve kudos for keeping an eye on their kids. Obviously they couldn’t keep their children under constant surveillance, but when illegal drugs are involved it always better late than never.

Your kids may resent your “interference” in their lives, but it makes sense to keep tabs on what they’re up to, who they hang out with and their texting and social media habits. Your parenting may save your child from situations they can’t possibly foresee at their age.

Get Help From a Utah Juvenile Defense Attorney

If you have a child who’s already made some mistakes, don’t wait to contact a Utah juvenile defense attorney. Kids need legal help just as much as adults, but they rely on parents to make that decision for them.

Do your child and yourself a favor by talking to a Utah juvenile defense attorney today.

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Utah Kids Suspended Following Provo Drug Scheme

Jan
17
Simms, on the topic of  Drugs, School
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Several Utah kids have been suspended from elementary school, and one arrested, following a police investigation into a drug scheme that may have been organized by the juvenile who was arrested.

The juvenile arrested is an eighth-grader from a local middle school. Authorities believe that he would purchase marijuana from another individual and then pay the other kids—sixth graders—to pick up the drugs. Police think that the drug dealer lives somewhere near the elementary school attended by the younger kids.

The sixth-graders were all suspended from school; the older child heading up the drug scheme was suspended and arrested. He is being investigated for drug distribution and over 150 counts of child endangerment, all of which are class A misdemeanors.

Offenses in Juvenile Court

In an adult court, every class A misdemeanor charge comes with the potential penalty of up to one year in jail. Unless the child in question’s case is transferred to district court, he will be under the purview of the state’s juvenile justice system where his actions will be treated more as offenses then crimes, although he may still spend time in a detention facility if a juvenile judge deems it appropriate.

Although this incident may be a bit surprising, local school officials seem to think it is an isolated situation and not a sign of bigger drug problems in the elementary school system. Hopefully that is the case.

Discuss Your Child’s Case with a Utah Juvenile Defense Attorney

When you have a child who has been arrested, whether for drug-related charges or something else, you should seriously consider contacting a Utah juvenile defense attorney. Kids who have committed offenses need and deserve help, particularly legal assistance. Do your child a favor and talk to a top Utah juvenile defense attorney today.

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Posted in Drugs, School | No Comments »

Rethinking Youth Crime with the Drop in California Serious Youth Crime Rates

Nov
29
Utah Criminal Defense Attorney, on the topic of  Drugs, Juvenile Defense Misc
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A research brief just published by the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice examines why the serious crime rates among youth in California have dropped substantially in recent years. Although logic suggests that drug crime rates would fall with the changes in drug laws, the crime rates for violent and property felonies, homicide, and misdemeanors in general also decreased.

Overall, California serious youth crime rates have fallen faster than national rates in the last 40 years.

The researchers were only able to positively correlate the crime decline with two factors: (1) the 2011 change in marijuana law, downgrading low-level possession from a misdemeanor to an infraction; and (2) improvements in the economic well-being of California’s youth. Even these correlations though were moderate. This suggests that policy-makers need to re-think “the often emotional and increasingly unfounded rhetoric now used to characterize young people, violence, and crime.” In particular, California’s drop in youth crime shows “that contrary to conventional notions, more youth and increasing racial and ethnic diversity do not lead to more crime” because California has the most diverse youth population and now has the lowest offense level ever reliably calculated.

For the full brief click: CA_Youth_Crime_2011.

The truth is that many factors influence youth propensity to commit crime and many factors may make legal intervention more or less successful.  For those with a child or teen that has already been arrested and is involved in the justice system, contacting an experienced juvenile attorney may make the difference in getting them back on track.

 

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Posted in Drugs, Juvenile Defense Misc | No Comments »

American Teens and Drug Use

Aug
23
Utah Criminal Defense Attorney, on the topic of  Drugs, Juvenile Court, Juvenile Defense Misc, School
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Attribution: compujeramey

Columbia University does an annual survey of American kids from ages 12 to 17 to track the prevalence of drugs in high schools. This year, the participants responded that 17% of their classmates are using drugs, drinking, and/or smoking during the school day. There were other interesting findings. The study showed that kids are more likely to have tried drugs, alcohol, or tobacco if they view pictures of other kids using alcohol and/or drugs on social networking sites like Facebook. Also, younger teens were found to have easier access to (within an hour to get) prescription medication than marijuana. This marks the sixth straight year that 60% or more of the surveyed students reporting that their “high schools are drug infected, meaning that drugs are used, kept or sold at the schools.” Columbia High School Study.

As the drug presence in schools increases, it’s important for parents, teachers, and community leaders to take preventative measures with the youth they supervise to prevent these behaviors. For those families already dealing with these issues in the juvenile justice system, it can be difficult to determine how to act in a child’s best interest. A Utah juvenile defense attorney can help these families navigate the variety of rehabilitative options available, such as juvenile drug court programs or other substance abuse treatment options, so the youth has the optimal environment and opportunity for success. If you and your child are dealing with the juvenile justice system, for drugs or otherwise, contact an experienced juvenile defense attorney to help both you find the best solution for your family

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Posted in Drugs, Juvenile Court, Juvenile Defense Misc, School | No Comments »

Teen Drug Use

Jul
12
Simms, on the topic of  Drugs
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Two reports from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration concerning teen drug use were recently released, revealing new information about when many teens first smoke pot, cigarettes and drink alcohol.

Photo: James Alby

Summertime Teen Drug Use

June and July are popular months for around 11,000 kids between 12 and 17 to take their first drink of alcohol. The typical days the rest of the year (except for December) see an average 5,000 to 8,000 first-time drinkers.

An average 5,000 teens smoke cigarettes for the first time in June and July, as well. First-time marijuana use also increases to over 4,500 experimenting during the summer months, from an average of 3,000-4,000 adolescents the rest of the year.

Utah Juvenile Defense Attorneys Can Help

These numbers show how important it is for teens to have the right kind of diversions available to them during school breaks to help reduce teen drug use. Part of the problem with teen drug use is that it might precede other criminal behaviors later in life—and sometimes even during one’s youth. Juvenile courts are busy today trying to help rehabilitate teens who are addicted to drugs and/or alcohol and who may have committed other crimes.

If your teen is in the juvenile justice system, whether he suffers from substance abuse or not, it’s important that he receive vital legal service from an experienced Utah juvenile defense attorney. A top legal professional can give you and your child the best advice and defense possible, helping you both inside and outside the courtroom. Call a Utah juvenile defense attorney today to discuss your child’s legal dilemma.

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Legal Medical Marijuana in California High School

Apr
20
clayton, on the topic of  School, Utah Juvenile Videos
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California High School students with a medical marijuana cards are allowed to smoke marijuana at school. The school must allow a student to take his medicine in school even if that medicine is marijuana. Interesting. Should students be allowed to smoke marijuana in High School with a medical marijuana card?

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Posted in School, Utah Juvenile Videos | No Comments »

Utah Juvenile Drug Charges

Dec
08
clayton, on the topic of  Drugs
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It is illegal for a Utah juvenile to intentionally or knowingly possess controlled substances like: methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, ecstasy, marijuana, or any controlled substances that are illegal without a valid prescription. Possession of a Controlled Substance may include not only direct possession, but also constructive possession.

A prosecutor may argue that under the constructive possession theory, the minor may not have actually possessed drugs on his or her person, but had control over the drugs.  For example, the drugs were in the minor’s coat and the coat was near the minor, and the minor knew the drugs were in the coat.

It is essential that you contact a knowledgeable criminal defense attorney about what a prosecutor needs to prove in a drug possession case. In some of the district courts in Utah, specialized drug courts have been set up that emphasize treatment and rehabilitation over punishment. The drug courts are widely recognized as being very successful in turning people’s lives around once a drug problem has been identified.

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Girls Becoming as Violent as Boys

Jun
08
jessica, on the topic of  School, Violent Acts
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photo: JP-Flanigan

photo: JP-Flanigan

A  recent U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration report shows that 1 in 4 teenage girls across the country, in such places as Utah, are involved in violent behavior. 26.7% of the 33,000 girls surveyed had been involved in a serious fight or violent act. We can also assume that the rates are higher as most school age students are shy to admit their real feelings and experiences for fear of repercussion. The violence is more prevalent with girls who binge drink and/or smoke marijuana, came from low income families, those who did not attend school, and with girls who had the lowest grades. Young girls are starting to overturn the stereotypes that target male adolescents as aggressors as the more violent of the genders. If your son or daughter has been accused of a violent crime finding a defense attorney who has experience with adolescents is very important to keep your child on the right track to success.

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Posted in School, Violent Acts | No Comments »