Leon County’s “Hidden in Plain Sight” Exhibition – Educating Parents on Potential Dangers in their Child’s Room

April 22, 2022 Don Pumphrey, Jr. Criminal Defense, News & Announcements Social Share

It is natural for parents to feel concerned about their children’s activities. This is intensified once kids reach the adolescent stage. Teenagers are known for testing the limits and trying new things—sometimes even things that are illegal.

Leon County has a yearly program to try and build the bridge between parents and their children. Understanding the potential dangers that your teen can succumb to, and how to prevent it. Education is extremely important regarding the law, and both parents and kids can learn a lot through this initiative.

We will cover the most recent exhibit from the LCSO, along with the most common crimes committed by teenagers and helpful resources.

What is the “Hidden in Plain Sight” Exhibit?

Every year in November, Leon County holds the North Florida Fair, in which the Sheriff’s Office holds exhibitions to help parents keep their kids safe. This past year, during the 79^th annual fair, the theme chosen by LCSO was titled “Hidden in Plain Sight.”

In the exhibit, there was a display of a teenager’s bedroom. Parents were able to explore the bedroom and were given a checklist. The goal was to try and find common items in the room that could be used to hide drug paraphernalia or weapons. LCSO’s Crime Prevention and Youth Services unit organized the room to help connect parents with their children, and start the conversation about alcohol, drugs, and weapons early on.

Shonda Knight, Executive Director of Community and Media Relations, said,

Many of the items in our exhibit are things that can be easily purchased online or in local stores. At first glance a writing pen may not signal a red flag, but our experts can show you how it can be manipulated to hide items such as pills or illegal drugs.

In addition to items found throughout the room, the exhibit also explained various social media apps and their functions—that some parents may or may not be aware of. For instance, certain trends were circulating on TikTok where young teens were participating in crimes for “Devious Licks.” You can read more about that in our blog post here.

An additional service the LCSO was offering at the fair was issuing Child ID cards, which benefits both parents and law enforcement in case a minor is abducted or goes missing. Included on the ID cards were the following descriptions:

• Date of Birth of the child
• Hair color
• Eye color
• Important medical information
• Birthmarks
• Fingerprints
• A photo of the child’s face

LCSO hopes that with the annual fair will come a closer bond between parents, their children, and law enforcement to create a safer county. You can find out more information about the annual event on LCSO’s Facebook page.

Most Common Arrests Made in Teens

Going through adolescence is a time filled with physical, emotional, and mental changes. Teenagers don’t yet have fully developed brains, and start to learn things by making mistakes. No matter what the reason, teens may end up getting accused of a crime. The following is a list of the most common arrests made in the teenager age group:

• Disorderly conduct
• Trespassing
• Burglary
• Assault
• Theft
• Vandalism
• Drug charges
• Underage DUI

Florida has entirely separate rules for a minor charged with a crime. However, there are certain cases where a minor may be tried as an adult. Even in the case that they are not, the penalties for committing a crime can still affect the rest of your life. It is extremely important for a minor accused of a crime to contact a juvenile defense attorney in their area. You can read more about juvenile defense in our blog here.

In the case that a teen is accused of criminal activity, certain defenses can be used to help defend the minor. A witness expert can be a helpful tool in a criminal case, especially one that focuses on brain development in teens. To reach more about expert witnesses for trials with teens, find our blog here.

Resources

If you are a parent looking for helpful resources for your teen, try reaching out to Florida Department of Juvenile Justice Prevention Services. They are a voluntary youth crime prevention program across the state of Florida for minors. Their goal is to increase safety and reduce juvenile delinquency through effective prevention, intervention, and treatment services.

Finding a Defense Attorney in Tallahassee, Florida

While the LCSO annual fair is a great initiative to help reduce teen crimes, it does not mean that it will never happen. Teens can make mistakes without fully thinking of the consequences. It is important to become educated on the different types of crime and their penalties. If you are a teen who has been accused of a crime or are the parent of a teen, make sure you reach out to an experienced defense attorney in Tallahassee.

Don Pumphrey and his team at Pumphrey Law Firm have experience representing teens all over the state of Florida. They understand the importance of finding a strong defense for your case and ensuring your future is not destroyed by one mistake. Don’t hesitate, call (850) 681-7777 or leave an online message today for a free consultation.

Written by Karissa Key

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