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1. Can’t we just pay the fine and be done with it?

No. Acceptance of a fine by the court constitutes a plea of guilty by the defendant and would result in a conviction. Texas law requires juvenile offenders under age 17 to appear in person and with a parent or guardian before the judge and must be present in court to be convicted.

2. Can my child come to court alone so I don’t have to take off work?

Texas law requires that a Court use diligent effort to locate and compel the presence of a parent to produce the child and be present during the proceedings. Failure of a parent, guardian, or managing conservator to come to court when summoned, to produce the child in court as required, or to inform the court of the child's change of address are all Class C misdemeanor offenses with fines up to $500 that can be brought against a parent (CCP 45.0215).

3. How should my child plead?

A plea of guilty or nolo contendere (no contest) will result in the judge inquiring into the circumstances of the offense before rendering a suitable penalty, usually the same day you and your child appear to plead. A plea of not guilty will result in the case being set for a pretrial conference and trial at a later date.

4. Will my child have a record?

Traffic & Alcohol Cases

Traffic and alcohol cases are reported to the Department of Public Safety in Austin, identified with your child's driver's license number or social security number and birth date. Courts are also required to report juveniles who fail to appear for court or who fail to pay their fines, resulting in an administration suspension of the juvenile's driver's license.

Record

A record is kept, but is not used against a young offender to establish guilt or innocence. It is considered when recommending appropriate penalties after conviction. It is not used in criminal proceedings against that person when he or she becomes an adult.

Open Records

While not all juvenile records are open to the public, most Class C misdemeanors are public record. For example, if your son or daughter enters the military or seeks a security clearance, the possibility exists of an independent investigation revealing one or more Class C misdemeanor convictions on the public record. Determining whether or not that would be a problem depends on several factors. These factors may include the outlook of the prospective employer, the type of offense, the level of security clearance sought, whether or not the application was truthful, etc. It is possible to have certain types of juvenile criminal records sealed or expunged under special circumstances CCP 45.0216.

5. What does “expunction” mean?

Expunction is a procedure available to a juvenile convicted of a crime, where the offense is removed from the juvenile's record at the point the law no longer applies. For example, a juvenile convicted of a single alcohol-related offense, could apply to the court to have the conviction removed when the juvenile turns 21). The person must make a written request to have the records expunged. The request must be made under oath. There is a $30 fee.

6. Can my child have a court appointed attorney to represent him/her?

No. Courts do not appoint counsel for any Class C offender, regardless, of age, since there is no jail penalty associated with the offense. You are free to hire a lawyer if you choose to do so.

7. Can I speak for my child at trial?

No. A person who is not licensed to practice law cannot represent someone in court, even their own child. This is called the unauthorized practice of law.

8. How much will my child have to pay?

The amount of the fine varies according to the offense charged and the circumstances specific to your child's case. Ordinarily, the maximum fine for traffic offenses is $200, and the maximum fine for other Class C misdemeanors is $500 (unless there is a special fine range specified in the legislation creating the offense). The court has the option of permitting fines to be paid in installments or allowing the defendant to discharge a fine through community service work.

9. How does community service work?

Community service is credited against the fine at the rate of $10 an hour. An appropriate number of community service hours are assigned to be served at a governmental or non-profit agency. The supervising agency should keep track of the hours. Once the hours are completed it is the parent's and child's responsibility to return the proper documentation to the Court.

10. Where can I find an alcohol or tobacco class?

Court-ordered alcohol and tobacco classes must be certified by the State of Texas. Find an alcohol awareness course near you. Find a tobacco awareness course near you.