Walk It Through: The Broken Window
Teenagers, a store window, a shoplifted item and a fight, and what parents answer for.
A high school sophomore throws a rock through a store window on purpose.
Two things a person in this spot might do. Picking one shows what the law says about it.
Teenagers on one afternoon. Family court for juveniles, school discipline, a store's civil demand letters and the family purpose doctrine are not worked through here.
A practice walkthrough, not a prediction of how any real one will go. Legal information, not legal advice.
Words this turns on
Terms with a legal meaning that is narrower than the everyday one. Each links to the definition and the authority behind it.
- GuardianA person the court appoints, on clear and convincing evidence that someone is incapacitated, to provide continuing care and supervision, with orders only to the extent the incapacity requires.
- MinorA person under the age of eighteen, which is what every reference to minors in the state's laws means, except in the laws on selling alcoholic beverages.
- Assault and battery of a high and aggravated natureUnlawfully injuring another person where great bodily injury results, or by means likely to produce death or great bodily injury, a felony carrying up to twenty years.
- Domestic violenceCausing physical harm or injury to one's own household member, or offering or attempting to with apparent present ability under circumstances reasonably creating fear of imminent peril, graded in degrees.
- Great bodily injuryBodily injury that creates a substantial risk of death, or causes serious, permanent disfigurement or protracted loss or impairment of the function of a bodily member or organ.
- Moderate bodily injuryInjury involving prolonged loss of consciousness, temporary or moderate disfigurement or loss of function, a fracture or dislocation, or treatment needing regional or general anesthesia.
- Petit larcenySimple larceny of goods worth $2,000 or less, a misdemeanor tried in magistrates or municipal court.