[HEY4QDEMS]

I’m not sure we have the whole story here. Has this family been in trouble with this girl before? Was the dad warned? Are they supporting the child or is the state?

According to this article, the answers to your first two questions are yes and yes. As for your third question I don't know but I don't see how that is relevant unless we have a law on the books that mandates jail time for all welfare recipients whose children fail to get a HSD.

[CindyDawg]

I don't know about jail...but holding parents accountable for their kids raising...what an interesting concept, huh?

I wonder what would happen if parents were told that they will support minor grandchildren with no state help or after 2 chances be put in jail for neglecting to supervise their kids. I'm a grown up project kid but I can hear it from my momma now.." You aren't going nowhere with him alone. I ain't raising your kids...or..you get yourself in the car. I'm taking you to that school myself. I ain't going to jail caz you want to skip school". JAT

[Dog Gone]

You just can’t order someone to compel the behavior of another, especially when it’s a performance measure, at the risk of being jailed.

A parent can be held civilly liable for the actions of a minor in their custody, but that involves monetary damages. If your kid breaks out the windows of every car on the block, you’re in trouble. If you told him to do it, then you can go to jail.

But this is far different. It’s not legally distinguishable from an order by the court that you make sure your kid qualifies for the Indy 500 or you go to jail.

It’s not something within your control.

[brytlea]

The initial issue didn’t seem to be not getting a degree or GED, but truancy. I know that in TX parents can go to jail for this, and I suspect that what happened is the judge told the father that if the girl got her GED he would drop it. The girl didn’t, and so now the man is going to serve the time.

At least that’s my best guess.

susie