Legal Question in Criminal Law in Pennsylvania

just a question

my daughter use to live with us but only for a short time and then she just left. we havent seen or heard from her and now the cops have come here looking for her and they keep driving by and stopping to ask if she is here. her and i have the same names. we keep telling them she is not here. they say she is using this address but i think they must see my name and address on things. i dont think its fair that they keep stopping here and asking myself and our other children things. i dont know what they want her for and i dont want to know. she is old enough to take of this since she just left here and hasnt bothered to call or any thing. i just dont feel that its fair to the others in the house to have to keep putting up with this. thank you


Asked on 5/10/06, 8:23 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Jay Hochberg

Re: just a question

I agree this seems like a very unpleasant situation. The bright side of the equation is that at least the police understand that they are looking for your daughter of the same name and not YOU. I can't tell you how many times I have represented people in criminal cases whose identity was "borrowed" by a family member or friend. I know this is no real comfort to you, but unfortunately, the police have a job to do and the reality is that they are going to be coming around for a while.

Again, although I can see that this situation is stressful for you, the harassment is low-level, relatively speaking, and it will decrease steadily with time.

If you really can't take this anymore, you may want to retain a local attorney to contact a supervisor in the warrant unit (or whatever police unit is bothering you). I would be hesitant to recommend that you do this yourself, as you may only buy yourself more intrusion into your life.

I wish you good luck and, by the way, if she does happen to contact you, recommend that she get a lawyer or a public defender and turn herself in - for your sake and hers.

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Answered on 5/11/06, 8:47 am


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