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Know your rights! Youth justice and juvenile law answers.

Askthejudge.info features regular updates from the news, important decisions from the nation′s courts, and online discussions with Judge Tom. Find out everything you need to know about youth rights, juvenile law and juvenile justice. AsktheJudge – Empowering youth one question at a time.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this site is made available to the general public and is not intended to serve as legal advice.You should consult a trained legal professional in your area for questions you may have about the laws affecting juveniles or any legal interpretations.

Copyright, 2014
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September 7, 2007
Judge Tom
Crime and Punishment
2

What if I start a fire that gets out of control?

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trash can fire

Most fires are either accidental or acts of nature: defective wiring or appliances, lightning, campfires, or explosions. A number of fires, though, are intentionally set. Depending on the amount of damage and the exact cause, these fires constitute crimes called arson or reckless burning.

Arson is defined as unlawfully and knowingly damaging property by causing a fire or explosion. Reckless burning is recklessly causing a fire or explosion that results in property damage. You may not have intended to damage anything, but your behavior was careless and reckless. For example, making a firebomb or any explosive device is dangerous and illegal. Whether a fire was intentional or not, you and your parents may have to pay all or part of the damage you caused.

If you find yourself in a fire situation and are unsure what to do, ask for help immediately by dialing the operator or 911, or contact your fire department.

Update: Not all of the October, 2007 California wildfires were caused by nature. One fire that burned 38,000 acres in northern Los Angeles County was started by a 10-year-old boy playing with matches. He accidentally set some brush outside his home on fire. With no evidence of intent to commit arson, the boy was not charged with any crime.

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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.

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2 Comments

  • Susan Marx
    May 6, 2016 3:14 pm count( 0 )

    My Brothers have never helped me in twenty years take care of my parents, but now that he has Alzheimer’s they have lied to the courts & gotten a criminal trespassing order taken out on me. They also had my Father sign over his POA to them and they have thrown him into a locked down nursing home facility so that they can sell off his property and take over his home. They have even been remodeling it with his money. When I tried to go see him, they had the nurses tell me I had to leave (as they had them listening to our conversation) to which I did when they said if I didn’t they could call the police. I left peacefully and now my brothers have talked them into taking out a criminal Tresspass order so I can’t go back. I even recorded my Dad’s & my conversation to have proof just in case anything happened. How can I fight these orders especially when I haven’t done anything wrong? They know I don’t have money to get an attorney and they are using my Dad’s money to fight the Guardianship I applied for. I’m tired of my Brothers bullying there way through life when it comes to me? PLEASE HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!
    Susan Marx
    Fmarx1913@gmail.com
    Dear Susan: AsktheJudge.info is an education resource for and about teenagers and the laws that affect them. We don’t provide legal advice to our readers, teen or adult. Some lawyers provide free initial consultations, so ask about this if you call one for advice. Good luck.

  • tiffany gerald
    July 23, 2010 11:42 pm count( 1 )

    recently in june there was a food fight in my middle school people started throwing food all over the outside the cafeteria and it got crazy. the next day there was a school staff recording with a good video camera kinda looked like those they used to film movies. my question is did he had the right to go and video tape record the cafeteria full of kids just because of the food fight or is what hes doing illegal. im from hollywood california if that helps thank you judge.
    Dear Tiffany: When you’re in a public place there’s little privacy that you can claim. Schools, banks, stores etc. have video cameras set up intentionally to record mischief and crimes. Everyone knows this so there’s no expectation of privacy. All the best.
    [This is information only – not legal advice].