Negotiating with parents: Attorney practices in the juvenile plea bargain process

Area of Science:

• Legal Psychology
• Juvenile Justice
• Criminal Law

Background:

• Plea bargaining research primarily focuses on adult court.
• Juvenile court plea bargaining involves unique factors, notably parental involvement.
• The extent of parental involvement in juvenile plea bargain discussions remains under-explored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the extent and nature of parental involvement in juvenile plea bargain discussions.
• To understand attorneys' perspectives on including parents in the juvenile plea process.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative interviews were conducted with eighteen defense attorneys from a juvenile public defender's office.
• Attorneys discussed their most recent case that concluded with a plea bargain.

Main Results:

• Parents were frequently included in plea negotiations and hearings.
• Attorneys sought parental input because parents can be affected by plea terms and court approval is often required.
• Parents provided input on their child's plea competency, disposition plans, and agreement with guilty pleas.

Conclusions:

• Parental interests may be significantly impacted by plea agreements, necessitating their consideration.
• Attorneys must navigate potential conflicts between parental and child interests.
• Educating and managing parents' understanding of juvenile rights and plea processes is essential for defense attorneys.