Responsibility when kids break the law. (Split thread)

Duke · 03-02-2005, 11:17 PM

I agree that the parents should be held responsible for the trouble their kids cause in school. Something like this should not be a slap on the wrist kind of situation either, I'm talking more along the lines off stiff fines and community service.

Star · 03-03-2005, 06:01 AM

By saying the parents should be accountable for what their kids do, do you mean the parents should be punished by law as well as the kids? Because if that's what this means, I disagree with that.

We can't be with our kids 24/7 and watch their every move. If krystal was to do something against the law and I was going to go to jail for her actions as well, that wouldn't be fair. I know that I do my best to teach her right from wrong and I'm sure that most parents do that. The law needs to be a lot more tough on these kids that commit crimes. And, as a parents, they need to back up the law so that their kids are punished accordingly and not try to get their kids a slap on the wrist for their child instead.

Samson · 03-03-2005, 08:15 AM

Quote:

do you mean the parents should be punished by law as well as the kids?

Yeah, that's exactly what I mean.

Obviously, parents are not with their kids 24/7, but, by definition, parents are RESPONSIBLE for their children's behavior. Kids, by definition, are NOT responsible for their behavior, and unless SOMEONE is legally responsible, then we'd better get used to the growing volume of anarchy, one example of which Merika descibed in her original post.

There is absolutely no reason parents should not be ticketed and fined when their children are suspended from school, or parents shouldn't be sued in civil courts for punitive damages when thier children commit criminal felonies.

Merika · 03-03-2005, 08:39 AM

Well...let's see....

As parents, we aren't allowed to restrain our kids, spank them till it hurts, make them work till they sweat....because if we do...the school has already informed them of their civil rights and how to even 'divorce us' if they want to.

Perhaps if the government and the system would get out of the parent's business.....they wouldn't be so frustrated having to deal with the little spits all day.

Think of it this way....if your 15 year old walks out of your house cussing and slamming the door while informing you that they are going somewhere you didn't give permission for or moving out..... EXACTLY WHAT is a parent going to do without getting arrested for it?

Star · 03-03-2005, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samson

Quote:

do you mean the parents should be punished by law as well as the kids?

Yeah, that's exactly what I mean.

Obviously, parents are not with their kids 24/7, but, by definition, parents are RESPONSIBLE for their children's behavior. Kids, by definition, are NOT responsible for their behavior, and unless SOMEONE is legally responsible, then we'd better get used to the growing volume of anarchy, one example of which Merika descibed in her original post.

There is absolutely no reason parents should not be ticketed and fined when their children are suspended from school, or parents shouldn't be sued in civil courts for punitive damages when thier children commit criminal felonies.

I'm sorry but THAT is the most rediculous thing I've heard in my entire life!!!! You mean to tell me that I should be going to jail or getting fined because my daughter CHOOSES to do bad things? That's rediculous! How in the world can I have control over what she does when she's out of sight? You obviously don't have any teenagers in your house yet. when you do, you'll know exactly where I'm coming from.

Us parents are NOT responsible for the actions of our children; the CHILDREN are. They're the ones committing the crimes, not us. We've taught them right from wrong and it gets to a point where they make their own decisions and mistakes that are out of our control. We cannot control kids when they reach a certain age.

Do YOU remember being a kid? I do and I can tell you that my parents couldn't of done anything to stop me from making the mistakes that I did. Should they've been punished for MY mistakes? NO!! I'm the one who should be punished so that I can learn from MY mistakes.

That theory makes no sense.

Duke · 03-03-2005, 01:03 PM

I meant fines for the parents and community service for the kids. I also think that a slap on the wrist for something like this is pathetic but it's usually what happens.

Merika · 03-03-2005, 01:25 PM

I think kids who get in trouble....should at least have to do 4 weekends in juvenile jail. This would alleviate the cost of having to educate them while in jail. Should the parents have to go in on the cost (here it is $5 a day....they could charge more) while their kid is in there? Possibly so....that's fair enough.

I would've hated to see Sn00py have to go to jail for 4 weekends....but truthfully, for what he did, he deserved it.

Star · 03-03-2005, 01:41 PM

I disagree. Kids need to learn their lessons and they need to learn that there are severe consequences to their actions. how will they learn anything if all they get is a slap on the wrist or the parent is the one who has to do the time for what they've done? they won't learn a thing and they'll grow up to be dilinquent adults.

The law needs to change. the law needs to be more severe on these trouble making kids. Charging the parents with a fine or jail time isn't going to solve the problem with these kids at all; it will make them worse because they've gotten a slap on the wrist and the parents are the ones who get to suffer even more. that's unfair.

If this was a kid who caused this prank, then the KID is the one who should be severely punished. There should be juvenile jail time for that kid. The parents didn't tell the kid to make that call (or I would hope not anyhow) so why should the parent be held responsible? The kid did something that needs to have consequences put on the kid.

Now if a kid destroys property that doesn't belong to him, then I do agree that the parents need to replace or repair whatever it was the kid destroyed. Up until the kid reaches a certain age of course. I always replaced whatever my kids broke that belonged to someone else and I would make my kids do extra chores to repay the debt to us. That is the right thing to do but to send a parent to jail or slap them with a heavy fine for a crime their kid committed isn't fair. kids need to feel the consequences and face their punishments.

Duke · 03-03-2005, 03:05 PM

The problem is that kids often don't suffer the consequences for these crimes.

Merika · 03-03-2005, 03:19 PM

UPDATE on the original story:

Isis said they offered $100 bucks over the intercom this morning to anyone having information on who made the calls. Sure enough....the boy who had 'dared' his friend to do it came forward. Both boys are freshman...9th grade. The boy called from his pre-paid cell phone from the school cafeteria. Isis doesn't know either one of them personally.

Considering one of the calls were actually made to the Sheriff's Department....I suspect there will be some serious consequences. I can only imagine how embarassed his parents must be. It was a prank and stupid......but I'm surprised it doesn't happen more often.

Like Star said....if you aren't with them....you can't control the choices they make.

Duke · 03-03-2005, 03:22 PM

Stupid kids.

Throw the book at the little buggers I say. Sorry but this is ridiculous and stupid and they need to be made aware of it.

Star · 03-03-2005, 03:25 PM

I agree. Those kids need to know the seriousness of their prank. I really do hope that the law will step in and make them examples. They need to severely be punished for this. I can imagine how the parents must feel. I would be grounding my kid until the end of time for pulling something like this. There would be no fun at all for a very long time.

Duke · 03-03-2005, 10:02 PM

These days the law is so soft it should almost be held accountable as a reason for criminal activity among adolescents.

Star · 03-04-2005, 05:32 AM

you're absolutely right. I do blame the law for all the adolecsent crimes. They are way too soft on the kids. they usually just get a lecture from the judge. as if that's going to do anything!