Attorney Law Firms receive cases for troubled teens frequently. These cases cover drug and alcohol abuse, runaways, gangs, crimes, etc. When building a case for or against a troubled teen, Private Investigators can be hired. We find out everything from arrest records to current location. If we are working on a runaway case, we will locate and return the teen.
We usually start our investigations by obtaining information such as full legal name and date of birth, names of friends, and frequent hangout spots. If we find out the teen is missing, this may lead to the involvement of law enforcement as it could be a kidnapping. While most cases are for teens who have voluntarily left, we approach with caution in case we need to involve the authorities.
If your teen has a history of running away or you fear they will run away, we look out for the following signs and ask the following questions:
● Arrests: has the child been arrested before or been a target of an investigation? Is the child at risk of being arrested? Are they juvenile delinquents and are the friends dangerous?
● Anger: Does the child fight with others? Have anger outbursts? Is there a history of school fights? Does the child lash out and/or destroy property?
● Apathy: Does the child exhibit signs of depression such as loss of interest in hobbies and/or feeling hopeless? Does the child have mood swings or irregular eating patterns?
● School: Are the child’s grades slipping? Does the child have poor attendance? Has the child voluntarily dropped out of school?
● Family Affected: Does the child’s behavior impact the family, marriage, or the other children?
● Sex: Is the child sexually active, promiscuous, and/or at risk of contracting diseases or becoming pregnant?
● Gangs: Is the child involved in gangs, gang activity, or a cult?
● Suicidal Thoughts: Has the child made any suicidal attempts or shown a desire to harm themselves?
● Withdrawal: Does the child spend excessive amounts of time alone, away from others? Does he/she avoid the parents?
● Substance Abuse: Is the child suspected of being involved with drugs or alcohol? Have any incidents occurred while the child may have been under the influence?
These are the questions we ask before intervention. The more information we have, the better we can serve the family and/or the Attorney Law Firm.
Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication at the time it was written. It is not intended to provide legal advice or suggest a guaranteed outcome. Individual situations will differ and the law may have changed since publication. Readers considering legal action should consult with an attorney to understand current laws and how they may affect a case.