Can Police Question A Minor Without A Parent In Texas?
Most people believe police can’t question a child without the consent of his or her parents. This is a misconception.
In Texas, police officers are allowed to question a child without parental consent or prior permission as long as the questioning is done in a non-custodial setting. In other words, as long as the child is not in handcuffs, detained, or in custody, police can approach them and question them without parental knowledge.
So, for example, if a police officer shows up outside the youth’s school and wants to talk – and the child willingly answers the officer’s questions – the parents may not even find out about it if their child doesn’t tell them. That’s a scary thought for most parents.
In fact, most conversations with the police take place at school with absolutely no notice to the parents. It’s also important to note that, in this type of setting, police also do not have to give the juvenile their Miranda warnings.
Juvenile law is a highly specialized area that requires very specific knowledge and expertise. Varghese Summersett is proud to have one of the state’s top juvenile defense lawyers on our team. Lisa Herrick is board certified in Juvenile Law - a designation held by only 68 attorneys in Texas and just three in the county. This puts Lisa in an elite class of lawyers who are considered experts in cases involving youth under age 17.
To learn more about juvenile rights and what a child should do if police want to question him or her, please visit VersusTexas.com.
