Expert: Robin Sexton - 1/20/2010

Question
My son hit me (& has done this before.)  I want to know if I ever decide to press assault charges on him, what will happen to him--he is 15 years old.

Answer
Kellie,

I am very sorry for this,  sons should not be hitting their mothers.

I will deal with the legal aspects of your question first.  At 15 he is probably considered a juvenile and the resulting action will take place in a juvenile court.  There the court has a great deal of authority, action can range from counseling, probation, juvenile detention, foster care.  The determination will be based on the severity of the assault, prior issues made known to the court and any professional assessments the court is provided.  First offenders are normally probation and counseling.

Now i will deal with the some other issues.   This is a very bad precedent you are allowing your son to get away with.   This will not get better on its own.  He is learning a couple of things.  First that he can hit you and get away with it.  This will continue and usually gets to be more serious because he does not know any limit to his behavior. Could even continue to using weapons.  Secondly if he feels he can do this to you then he may feel he can do this to any other woman.  In todays society this is not acceptable and in most jurisdictions courts come down very hard on this.  In my state this is considered domestic violence.  If he hits his girlfriend or wife and she reports it, he goes to jail, no if's, and's or but's.  I strongly suggest you shut him down now.  Your state may even provide for the police to remove him even at 15 for domestic violence. Not only does he need some guidance but you need to find someone to talk to also.

Good luck,   I hope this helps


robin