February 9, 2016
Judge Tom
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Judge Tom

It sounds like your son received a civil demand letter AND charges were filed against him. If so far you have only received a civil demand letter, then by paying the demand, it could be the end of the matter and you and your son will hear nothing more from the store. If, however, he has to go to court, then he may be offered diversion and given the opportunity to avoid a record so long as he completes the terms of the program. Otherwise, he could be facing probation. Paying the civil demand is entirely up to you. If he’s already been charged plus the store is asking for the civil demand, you may want to contact the attorney listed on the letter and explain that charges have already been filed and that a fine and restitution is most likely going to be part of the case, so why should you pay the civil demand, too. Good luck to you and your son. (Check our Teen Help Network for more help and resources in your area. This is information only – not legal advice.)

Judge Tom

The Author Judge Tom

Judge Tom is the founder and moderator of AsktheJudge.info. He is a retired juvenile judge and spent 23 years on the bench. He has written several books for lawyers and judges as well as teens and parents including 'Teen Cyberbullying Investigated' (Free Spirit Publishing) and 'Every Vote Matters: the Power of Your Voice, from Student Elections to the Supreme Court' (Free Spirit Publishing). In 2020, the American Bar Association published "Cyberbullying Law," the nation's first case-law book written for lawyers, judges and law students. When he's not answering teens' questions, Judge Tom volunteers with the American Red Cross and can be found hiking, traveling and reading.