Last summer, Las Vegas Metro Police started a patrol squad aimed at citing or arresting teens for underage drinking, as well as the adults who supply them with alcohol. The initiative, called "Party Crashers," resulted in scores of minors being cited for Minor in Possession of Alcohol, (MIPA) Minor in Consumption of Alcohol (MICA) and numerous related offenses. Metro also partners with the Department of Juvenile Justice Services (DJJS) and the District Attorney's Office on this program to ensure effective prosecution of these cases.
With prom, Memorial Day, graduation and end of the year parties coming, Metro has committed to renewing its efforts by committing resources to the "Party Crashers" program again this year. As a part of "Party Crashers," police officers surf the internet and numerous social networking sites (including Facebook, Twitter and MySpace) looking for information regarding where teens will be partying. The police then go to the party and bust the teens, as well as anyone who is supplying them alcohol. In some cases, police will line kids up on a curb and call parents to come pick them up. Usually, Police will not allow kids to change and they force the kids to stand or sit on a public curb until parents arrive, sometimes in various states of undress.
Teens cited as a part of the Party Crashers program can be sentenced to the full range of services and punishments available through the Juvenile Courts - from diversion to probation or correctional placement. Adults can also be cited for Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor for supplying alcohol to teens. Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor is punishable by up to six (6) months in jail or a $1,000.00 fine. A conviction for Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor can also result in Child Protective Services involvement and can affect child custody orders under some circumstances.
If you or someone you know is arrested or cited as a part of the "Party Crashers" initiative, it is important to contact a Las Vegas Juvenile Attorney right away. A Las Vegas Juvenile Lawyer can assist you in analyzing the facts of your case, identifying appropriate defenses and providing you with the most aggressive defense possible.