It’s Prom Season, and while it is often a fun time for high school students as the school year draws to a close, it can also be a dangerous time. It is important for parents to take the time to talk to their kids about the potential dangers associated with prom and how to best respond to peer pressure. It’s easier said than done, but it’s important to have a plan in place.
Below, we take a closer look at five common crimes that are often associated with prom night and how you and your teen can avoid a problem before, during and after this fun event.
Common Prom Crimes
Here’s a look at five crimes that juveniles may end up charged with if they make poor decisions on prom night.
1. Underage Consumption of Alcohol – Don’t be the person who shows up to prom with alcohol on your breath. That mouthwash or wad of gum isn’t going to fool school administrators or a police liaison officer. We always get an uptick of calls about juvenile consumption citations during prom season, and if you’re caught on school grounds, it can affect your academic or athletic eligibility.
2. Juvenile DUI – If we can’t talk you out of having a couple beers on prom night, at least heed our warning about drinking and driving. A juvenile DUI carries serious consequences, including jail time, fines and the loss of your license. It can also affect your ability to get into the college of your choice. Besides all those reasons, it’s also extremely dangerous. Every year we hear of schools whose prom night turns in a tragedy because some students died in a drunk driving crash. Do not get behind the wheel if you’ve had anything to drink, because it is dangerous and illegal.
3. Sexual Assault – Alcohol and peer pressure can lead to teens making some questionable or regrettable decisions when it comes to sexual contact. No means no, and if you take things too far or the other person is unable to give consent, you could end up facing sexual assault or rape charges. Talk to your teen about consent and what to do if they see a friend in a vulnerable position.
4. Vandalism – Some teens think that it’s funny to destroy school property or vandalize a rival’s school’s building. Even if it’s “just a prank bro,” if it results in the damage or destruction of property, your child can be charged with vandalism. If they damage school property, they can face upgraded charges of criminal damage to property. Talk to your teen about the difference between harmful fun and criminal activity this prom season.
5. Curfew Violations – Finally, teens often want to celebrate prom long into the night hours, but if they are out driving around, they can be cited for a curfew violation. Check out this page to learn more about the curfew laws in different area counties, and make a plan with your child to know where they are going to be if they aren’t coming home directly after the dance. Deciding to work with something similar to limo rentals dana point might be useful to reduce curfew violations.
If your child ends up in trouble this prom season, call our firm at (952) 224-2277 for legal assistance.
