Good Teen - Bad Teen

ALTA

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Sheffy) — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 09:52:00 +0000

ALTA students. Post your legal questions here.

Concussion Prevention: How Far is too Far? Not Far Enough

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Sheffy) — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 14:20:00 +0000

This season my son suffered a concussion during a high school wrestling match. Not knowing much about concussions, I was alarmed about permanent damage. I questioned why high school wrestling did not require protective head gear. I have since learned that there is no head gear that would totally prevent a concussion based on the mechanics of the injury. However, helmets do offer a measure of protection. I started wondering how far would the state, parents and school officials will go in requiring head protection. For example, would it be mandated that all high school soccer or basketball players wear protective head gear.

Teens in the Work Place

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Sheffy) — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 19:40:00 +0000

While parents search for jobs that pay a living wage, employers may be happy to see teens returning to the work place this summer to fill minimum wage jobs. What jobs can teens hold ? What hours can they work? All good questions. Take a look at OSHA's list of frequently asked questions about Teens in the Work Place.

Off The Priority Parent Worry List

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Sheffy) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 14:13:00 +0000

Only 1% of all teens sex text. They get it. http://bitsy.me/3rh

Southington Attorney Tony Sheffy named Super Lawyer

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Sheffy) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 03:08:00 +0000

Tony Sheffy has been named to Super Lawyers of Connecticut for 2011-2012. His profile will appear in an upcoming issue of Connecticut Maganzine.

Teens to Old for Halloween: Beware Criminal Mischief

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Sheffy) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 02:59:00 +0000

As teen to old for Halloween, you and your friends decide to give a trick, rather than take a treat. It is important to realize, before you through that egg, that in Connecticut, tossing an egg or scratching a car could be a crime and not a prank. Criminal mischief is the destruction of private or public property which could include any type of physical damage. Criminal mischief charges are based on the amount of destruction and the intent of the person committing the act. Fines range from $500 to $5000, and could carry jail time of 3 months to 5 years. So if you are a teen to old for Halloween, don't get tricked into thinking that a simple prank will necessarily be a treat. You might find yourself facing a criminal mischief charge.

The Age of Consent Means Consent of the State

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Sheffy) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 11:18:00 +0000

Connecticut law makes it a Felony for a person to engages in sexual intercourse with another person where the other person is thirteen years of age or older, but under sixteen years of age and the one of the two is more than three years older than such other person. This is whether both parties consent or not. The law carries stiff penalties and is not to be taken lightly. It applies to adults and teens. Speak to your teen about the age of consent. http://tinyurl.com/6zfdqbe

The Uncontrollable Teen: What Rights do Parents have over their own children?

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Sheffy) — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 05:38:00 +0000

CT law gives Parents limited rights of control over the behavior of their own teens. Post your comments. Where do you weigh in?

Check Your Child's Safety Seat - Massive Recall

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Sheffy) — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 12:42:00 +0000

Government sources have told CNN Money that the Dorel Juvenile Group has recalled nearly 800,000 child safety seats because they do not always lock properly. The National Highway Safety Commission will begin a formal investigation at the beginning of March. Roughly 2000 children per year die in car accidents. Over 50% of these deaths result from the failure to wear a seat belt or be in a child safety seat.

Self More than Sex ?

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Sheffy) — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 10:53:00 +0000

Two controversial studies suggest that that teens would rather have a boast to their self-esteem then engage in sex. Roni Rabbin in the New York Times Health Section blog discusses the two studies. She quotes Dr. Twenge, the author of the “Narcissism Epidemic," as stating that “The idea has been that if we build [kids] self-esteem, then they’ll do better in school and in relationships. Well, that puts the cart before the horse. When you break down the research you see that kids who behave well and get high grades develop high self-esteem — not the other way around.” Where do you come down on this issue ?

Teens More Likely to Engage in Risky Behavior With Friends

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Sheffy) — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 04:01:00 +0000

A new study from Temple University reported by the New York Times suggests that teens are much more likely to engage in risky behavior if thier friends are present.

Amstel Light Please

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Sheffy) — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 11:16:00 +0000

With the Holiday Season approaching we are likely to deck the halls and open our homes to guests and relatives. Serving beer and wine at these traditional functions that include both adults and kids alike may seem common. But what example are we setting by making noses red by serving alcohol ? A new study shows that when measuring the harm caused to ourselves and to others, alcohol, NOT heroine or crack, is more dangerous. So what does this study mean ? It may mean that while we spend time fretting over the ever widening use of hard drugs by our kids, that we might want to take a look at the potential danger right under our nose. This does not mean that you should not serve an Amstel Light to your neighbor at a holiday party. It might mean that we should stop looking for the sharks in the water, like crack and heroine, and start taking safety measures as simple as wearing a seat belt, by teaching our kids the dangers and responsibilities of alcohol.

Teen Violence

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Sheffy) — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 03:43:00 +0000

Teen violence is on the Rise: While you may never witness or hear of violence against one of your teens, it may be surprising to learn that one in 11 teens in a serious relationship has been hit, slapped, or pushed by a partner.

The Age of Consent does Not Mean Consensual

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Sheffy) — Tue, 18 May 2010 10:34:00 +0000

This is an important but uncomfortable topic, but I have to raise this subject with my kids and you might want to speak to yours. So alright, here it goes: As our kids enter high school the average age of the students can be between 14 and 18. Even with this wide gap in age, as our kids mix and mingle it is not uncommon for them to enter into relationships where there is a disparity in age. If that relationship turns sexual, it can have serious repercussions for both teens. To Read More

Recovery Magazine

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Sheffy) — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 01:58:00 +0000

My first issue of Recovery : A Magazine devoted to Children and Families who have Suffered Personal Injuries, will be available April 28, 2010. For a free copy, email me, Tony Sheffy, at tsheffy@smddlaw.com. This magazine will answer questions that families may have regarding the course of action they should take following a serious injury. It will also contain articles and insightful tips on childhood safety. I hope you enjoy it.

When Your Teen show Contempt Act Quickly

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Sheffy) — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 02:08:00 +0000

Contempt can permanently damage a relationship. Experts believe that once a teen becomes contemptuous of a parent you must act quickly. Body language experts teach to approach a teen with a close stance and open palms and to simply say, "have I done something wrong." Through this approach, expert Jannie Driver, says, "you are taking responsibility for his behavior even if you think that it is not your fault."

Consider the Consequence

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Sheffy) — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 06:02:00 +0000

Up on my Soap Box for Parental Responsibility:

Jessie Owens said that, “a life time of training for just 10 seconds." Whether our kids make a right or wrong choice that can affect their lives can happen in less than the blink of an eye. As parents, we may devote a lifetime of training our children for that one brief blink moment. However, the counter- pressure is not to impose the consequence necessary to complete the training. As parents we are not always ready for the reverse consequences to ourselves that this necessary training might have on us. We don't seem braced to accept that in doing the right thing for our kids, we may appear in the short run to stand to lose our sons' and/or daughters' friendship (I don't think their respect). Ten seconds is ten times longer than it takes to make a bad decision that may affect our kids for the rest of their lives. Step up and take the risk that the consequence of accountability may be more important for our kids in the long run then their immediate friendship.

A Slap in the Facebook - My Daughter Declined my Invitation of Friendship

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Sheffy) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 04:57:00 +0000

Should parents join facebook ? I sent a facebook request to my daughter who is a college freshman. My four high school age kids accepted my request. She declined. SHE DECLINED. At first I was annoyed. I associated her decline with the way I might feel if my credit card was declined for no good reason. However, after I stopped imagining all of the inappropriate comments and pictures that she must have posted and that she wanted to keep me from seeing, my rational side accepted her choice. My daughter, and my other teens as well, are entitled to their privacy. In the same way I would not pick up the phone and listen in on a private conversation, Teens should be allowed to communicate with their peers without feeling censored. Facebook can be a great social network for adults to reconnect with family and friends. It is not a slap in the face to have a friendship request declined by your son or daughter. Besides, your cousin Fred will always be happy to reconnect and share with you what he had for breakfast.

Empty Your Pockets: Student Drug Searches

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Sheffy) — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 03:18:00 +0000

Students do not check their 4th amendment rights to be free from unreasonable search and seizure when they walk into school. However, that does not mean that a student may not be searched for drugs. If a student is suspected of having drugs on his person the administration in conducting the search must have a reasonable suspicion. The search must be reasonable (remember the outrageous strip search of a 13 year old who was carrying aspirin), and the need to maintain order must out weigh the student's right to privacy All of these conditions may seem thin ice too an administrator who may be afraid of being sued should he/she make a mistake. Accordingly, where a student who contests a search, an administrator is likely, and probably wise, not to conduct a forcible search but instead might bring in the local police to conduct the search. In that case, the officer would have to have to obtain a warrant that finds probable cause for a search. In short, trying to find the balance of safeguarding fundamental constitutional rights against discouraging the school administration from taking necessary and appropriate steps to maintain order is a thin rope.

I Want My Own Car

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Sheffy) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 02:42:00 +0000

The October issue of the Pediatric magazine has published a study that should give parents pause: giving in to teens' demands for their own cars can have dangerous consequences. The study found that teenagers with their own cars or free use of one are much more likely to get in crashes than those who share a car. Here is the kicker: where parents set down clear driving rules, crashes are far less likely.

DMV Teen Final Exam

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Sheffy) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 02:27:00 +0000

As of October 1, 2009, teens seeking to obtain their license will have to take a second exam. This “DMV Teen Final Exam” will be given by the DMV after a teen driver has completed home or driving school training and has passed the DMV road skills test. The first 25-question test is administered by the DMV when the teen seeks a learner permit to start the licensing process. The new test will determine a teen driver's knowledge of the rules of the road. Connecticut continues to lead the country on teen driver safety.

No Glove No Love

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Sheffy) — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 03:55:00 +0000

Talking with teens about sex has come along way since I turned 16 in 1979. At that time, it was uncommon to have frank conversations with parents about sex. Based upon the discussions at our dinner table, I thought we had come a long way. Although somewhat crass, we are not naive that our children may be sexually active and we promote abstinence, but our constant mantra is to say "no glove, no love." Dispite this openness, according to the Centers for Disease Control, a third of girls will get pregnant before age 20. The teen birth rate actually rose by 3 percent between 2005 and 2006, after dropping 34 percent over the last decade. In light of these statistics, why is teen pregnancy rising ? What are the issues surrounding legal support, legal custody and moral responsibility following an out of wedlock abortion ?

The HPV Vaccine and Teens

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Sheffy) — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 03:00:00 +0000

Recently, a teen made the national headlines when she was denied U.S. citizenship after she refused to be injected with a vaccine that protects against a sexually transmitted virus linked to cervical cancer. This vaccine is commonly known as the HPV vaccine. The vaccine is controversial and is not required of teens who are U.S citizens. The government is considering requiring all teens to have the vaccine. Should the government mandate that vaccines be required of U.S. teens ? How far will we move towards the society depicted by Ayn Rand in the novel Atlas Shrugged ? If a teen gets sick because of the vaccine, does she have legal rights against the vaccine maker ?

Surprise - Strip Search of a 13 Year Old Girl Unconstitutional

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Sheffy) — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 02:36:00 +0000

The rule of zero tolerance continues to lead to cases of zero common among some school administrators. It seems beyond imagination, but it took a recent ruling by the United States Supreme Court to hold that a strip search of a 13 year old girl at an Arizona school, who was suspected of hiding extra-strength ibuprofen, was unconstitutional. Keeping kids safe is a top priority. However, safety includes protection against constitutional violations. Back to School Rule 1: Zero Tolerance must be tempered with Common Sense.

The Most Dangerous Sport - Cheerleading

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Sheffy) — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 13:06:00 +0000

The stunts are spectacular. The athletes are exceptional. However, cheerleading is fast becoming the most dangerous sport for women in both high school and college. The Boston Globe reports that between 1982 and 2007, more than 1/2 of all serious injuries to high school or college women athletes related to cheerleading. As part of our parental responsibility, I urge you to join with me and other champions of cheerleader safety, to demand better regulation of the sport. In signing up your son or daughter to participate, investigate the training and safety practices of any school or cheer organization. We don't want to stop the sport. We want to stop the unnecessary, and sometimes deadly, injuries.