Publications
Q: What are the legal consequences for parents when their children commit acts of vandalism?
A: When reading the 'Police Beats' section of the Westlife Newspaper, the Police Reports often describe various acts of vandalism committed by Westshore area teenagers. At times teenagers vandalize homes, cars, schools, playground equipment, etc. If your teenager is apprehended by the police for an act of vandalism, consider the following consequences your juvenile will face in the legal system.
Q: Will your juvenile delinquent receive kid glove treatment in your local suburban court system such as the Rocky River Municipal Court?
A: Hardly. Juveniles are not prosecuted in our local cushy suburban Municipal Courts. Suburban teenagers are prosecuted in Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court located near Cleveland State University in Downtown Cleveland. If convicted, the suburban teenage defendant is not jailed in the hometown suburban jails. Instead, the convicted teenager is incarcerated in the ancient Cuyahoga County Juvenile Detention Center. The teenager's fellow prisoners generally have been convicted of far more serious felonies than simple vandalism. The notorious Juvenile Detention Center has long been considered to be an overcrowded, decrepit jail, which should have been torn down long ago. The county juvenile detention center is one of the most run down deplorable jails in the state with frequent problems of gang activity. In summary, if your teenager is charged with vandalism or any other crime for that matter, you are strongly advised to hire an attorney to represent them rather than simply throwing you teenager on the mercy of the Police and the Courts.
Q: Suppose your teenager commits acts of vandalism causing substantial damage for example to your local school buildings. What are the civil consequences for the parent?
A: Beginning in 1986, the State Legislature enacted a State Statute imposing Civil Liability for vandalism on the teenager's parents. Ohio revised code section 2307.70 provides that any person who suffers injury and or any owner who suffers property damage caused by a juvenile can file a lawsuit directly against the juvenile's parents. The injured person or property owner my file a civil action for up to fifteen thousand dollars, court costs, case expenses and attorney's fees incurred in pursuing the lawsuit against the juveniles parents. Thus the parents and the parents' teenager will be held jointly liable for the injury and property damage caused by the juvenile's vandalism. These types of civil claims for vandalism are not covered by a parent's home owner's insurance. Further a court judgment against a parent based upon juvenile vandalism cannot be discharged in bankruptcy court. In summary, parents should closely monitor their teenager's nighttime activities to avoid the harsh costly legal consequences.