The legal system makes two key assumptions about juveniles and their parents. First, the system presumes that parents help ensure competent decision making by juveniles. Second, the system presumes that juveniles have the capacity to make decisions about exercising rights and parents are helpful in that decision process. These two assumptions share the following components: that parents have adequate knowledge, that parents can communicate that knowledge effectively to juveniles, and that parents and juveniles share an identity of interests. These presumptions have not been empirically studied and result in an overarching research question that asks whether parents ensure competent decision making by juvenile defendants? In this study we will be addressing this question in four parts.

1. What is the knowledge base of parents and juveniles about juveniles' legal rights, legal system process?
   
2. Do parents have the capacity and the ability to communicate knowledge effectively?
   
3. What are parents' and juveniles' beliefs about juveniles' rights?
   
4. Who do parents and juveniles' believe has decision-making authority for juvenile's case?