One of the most critical steps you will take following your child having to endure abuse in a juvenile detention center is hiring a good lawyer. You will want to make sure this is the best legal representation available to deliver a judgment of justice. Below, we consider nine other very important questions you may want to ask a potential lawyer before retaining their services for any case involving a juvenile detention facility.
One should find out whether the attorney they engage in has dealt with abuse cases involving minors in detention and also has some experience in related fields. Juvenile cases are special and different from other cases that deal with adults, especially those that involve sexual abuse. These special elements require an attorney who knows the rights of the juveniles as well as the difficulties that go hand in hand while navigating the juvenile justice system.
The attorney must be legally competent and sensitive to the trauma your child has gone through. Inquire from the lawyer about their experience in working with vulnerable populations and whether they work with a counselor or a child psychologist during the case. Their approach should focus on the well-being of your child throughout the case.
Any lawyer should, have a defined strategy on how to piece together a concrete case. This involves evidence gathering, witness interviewing, and consultations with juvenile rights experts. Most juvenile detention centers usually have intricate evidence gathering cases. A good attorney will explain to you their strategy for securing evidence that can help substantiate claims of abuse and get your child's voice heard in the courtroom.
That would help one to know and understand whether the lawyer has handled the case previously and if these services were delivered promptly. A qualified lawyer ought to give examples, without breaching confidentiality, of similar juvenile cases or felony child endangerment that he has handled. These examples should highlight his competency and ability to deal with the particular challenges involved in abuse lawsuits.
It pays to know your options before deciding on what course of action to take. Enquire as to what legal routes are possible and if there is even the possibility of any civil lawsuits, settlements, or criminal charges pressed against the responsible parties. This would allow you to make an informed decision based on what each option entails; thereby, you will know what option is best for your child in the future.
While no attorney will promise an exact result, they at least should be able to give an idea of what one might expect based on similar case experiences. Ask about the best and worst scenarios for their case. Being realistic means you are emotionally and financially prepared for the eventuality you might face. Compensation, improvement in detention house policy and practice, and even shutdowns of such bad institutions, the outcome can vary depending on the lawyer's skills.
The costs can be huge and even overwhelming to many families, particularly traumatized families. Be sure to understand their contingency/fee structure-that is, whether the attorney only takes cases on contingency or if they bill hourly. In the case of severe abuse, some will take the case pro bono, especially in cases involving children. Their fees should be communicated clearly, and if they have to retain third-party experts or consultants, extra costs beyond their fees would be required.
Good communication is key in any business transaction, and even more so when parents are concerned for their child's welfare. Ask this attorney what mechanism they will use to keep you abreast of the case developments. Will they file progress reports regularly? Do they prefer email, phone calls, or in-person meetings? The assurance that you will be informed throughout will give you peace of mind at such a difficult time.
If your case is involved with the Thomas Waxter Detention Center, the lawyer should be familiar with its history, and surroundings. Usually, lawyers who have handled cases involving this detention center in the past may know about the environment, how the staff behaved, and any instances of abuse in the past, which will make your child's case that much stronger.
Choosing the right attorney to handle a juvenile detention case would entail doing some research and asking some tough questions. It needs to be more than finding an individual in possession of a license to practice; it needs to be about finding a real-life advocate on behalf of the rights and well-being of the child.
Equipped with these nine critical questions, you are sure to find the right partner in your fight for justice.
