A Parent's Legal Guide to Violent Behavior in Children

Good parents; violent kids. It's a terrible combination, but unfortunately, it happens all the time. Parents can be loving, considerate, firm and supportive, but some children exhibit violent behavior in spite of their upbringing. It could be a result of negative influences at school, or it might simply be a personal disposition that is causing the behavior. Whatever the case, parents must observe certain legal considerations when their children display violent behavior.

Not only do parents face legal problems because of their child's violent behavior, but they can also come under legal scrutiny based on any victims of their children. For example, if your child beats up another child at school, your child will face disciplinary and perhaps legal consequences, but his victim may want to pursue civil restitution. You may never have even seen the inside of a courtroom, but you'll have to familiarize yourself rather quickly.

The parents' legal responsibilities when their children exhibit violent behavior depend on the degree of severity. Schoolyard brawls, the occasional biting or kicking, and provocation may all lead to violence, and they aren't always indicative of a major underlying problem. This isn't to say that you shouldn't take violence seriously in any situation, but you should maintain a firm grasp on perspective.

In other words, just because your three-year-old pulled a friend's hair for taking his toy doesn't mean that he'll grow up to be a serial killer. Let's not overreact.

In the case of unprovoked or unnecessary violence, however, parents have to decide what legal measures they'll take to protect themselves and their children. For example, if your child assaults another child or an adult, the police will likely be involved, and your child may be charged with a crime. If this happens, will you cooperate with the authorities, or do everything in your power to ensure your child isn't punished via the legal system?