What Louisiana Law Says About Parental Rights During Interrogation

🚔 Your Child Is Being Questioned — But Are You Allowed in the Room?

Whether your child is 15 and in high school or 20 and in college, nothing sparks panic faster than hearing they're about to be questioned by the police.

We get this question all the time at Lawrence Law Firm:

“Can I be present while the police question my child?”

The answer? It depends — mostly on your child's age. And in some cases, your absence can make things much worse.

Here's what Louisiana law says — and what you should do immediately if you find yourself in this situation.

👶 If Your Child Is Under 18 (A Minor)

Yes, you generally have the right to be present when your child is being questioned.

In fact:

• Louisiana courts expect police to make reasonable efforts to contact parents or guardians before interrogating a juvenile.

• For custodial interrogations (where your child isn't free to leave), questioning minors without parental notification can result in the statement being suppressed in court.

⚠️ But police may still question a minor if they claim it was a non-custodial setting or if they say the child gave “voluntary consent.”

That's why it's essential to:

• Instruct your child ahead of time: “Don't talk to the police without me or a lawyer.”

• Call us immediately if your child is being questioned, detained, or taken into custody.

🎓 If Your Child Is 18 or Older (A College Student)

Legally, you no longer have any rights to be present unless your adult child specifically asks for you to be there or signs a release authorizing you.

That's the hard part — even if they're still financially dependent, on your insurance, or living under your roof, the law sees them as a fully independent adult.

What can you do?

• Talk with your college-aged child about invoking their right to remain silent and their right to a lawyer.

• If they're being questioned or investigated, contact us immediately — we can assert their rights and block further questioning.

• Encourage your child to say:

  “I don't want to answer questions without a lawyer present.”

Even if they believe they're innocent, the police are trained to make people talk — and that's where many young adults dig themselves into a hole.

🔒 What If My Child Has Already Been Questioned?

We've helped clients fight back after police:

• Interrogated minors without notifying parents

• Lied to or intimidated students into confessing

• Ignored requests for a lawyer

• Claimed statements were voluntary when they weren't

If your child has already made a statement, don't panic — but don't delay either. We can often:

• Challenge how the statement was taken

• Suppress it if proper procedure wasn't followed

• Counter it with evidence that paints a fuller picture

🛡️ What We Do at Lawrence Law Firm

Whether your child is 16 or 21, we:

• Step in before any more damage is done

• Communicate directly with police and prosecutors to shut down improper questioning

• Attend interrogations when permitted

• Protect your child's constitutional rights and strategically limit what's shared with law enforcement

You shouldn't have to guess what your child is saying behind closed doors — especially when their future is on the line.

📞 If the Police Want to Talk to Your Child — Let Us Talk First

📞 Call 318.232.4000 to speak with a criminal defense attorney in Ruston who understands how to protect both minors and young adults from overreaching police tactics.
🖥️ Or [schedule a confidential consultation] right away.

Don't let your child face law enforcement alone — even if they're technically an adult.

🔜 Up Next in the Series:

Post #4: Should My Child Talk to the Police?

The blog published by Lawrence Law Firm is available for informational purposes only and is not considered legal advice on any subject matter. By viewing blog posts, the reader understands there is no attorney-client relationship between the reader and the blog publisher. Artificial Intelligence has been used to assist in formatting, topic selection, and organization, and while this information has been reviewed an attorney, this article should not be used as a substitute for legal advice from a licensed professional attorney, and readers are urged to consult their own legal counsel on any specific legal questions concerning a specific situation.