criminal-procedure witnesses illinois parental-rights law-in-fiction
Can a parent insist that her child (teen) stop assisting police?
<p>This is based on a situation early in the novel <em>The Witness</em> by Norah Roberts.</p>
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<p>Suppose that a sixteen-year-old girl (E) witnessed a serious crime, in fact a double murder, apparently by an organized crime figure. E reports the crime to the police, gives a detailed statement, and identifies pictures of those involved from photo-spreads. The people she identifies are known to the police as active members of an organized crime group.</p>
<p>At this point E's mother (S) arrives at the place where E is being  interviewed. S, who is the sole custodial parent of E, demands that E come home with her, and that she not go off with the US Marshalls  to a safe house, and not prepare to testify.</p>
<p>S is well-off, and can afford to hire private security, and a good lawyer.</p>
<p>This all happens in the city of Chicago (or more exactly, one of its neighborhoods, Lincoln Park) in the state of Illinois, in the US.</p>
<p>Can S legally insist on E coming with her, over the objections of both E and the US Marshals and police? Can S obtain a court order requiring the Marshalls  to surrender custody of E to S?</p>
<p><strong>Update</strong> I should have mentioned that the police and representatives of the US Marshal's service believe, and state to S, that E is in serious danger from the organized crime group involved.</p>

<h2>E can leave at any time</h2>
<p>E is not detained and there is no basis to detain her. As a child, that decision can be made by a parent.</p>
<p>E can be subpoenaed to testify but she does not have to talk to law enforcement (and would be wise not to).</p>
