Woman put in prison for 48 hours - Page 3

Marienkaefer2 · ‎03-09-2010

I don't believe jail or fines are the answer here.

This incident occurred in Reading, PA, which is among the cities with the highest poverty levels in the whole country. And with that kind of poverty comes all the other problems.

This is only a symptom of much larger issues at play.

Now there are younger children left behind, who only know their mother was hauled off to jail and died there.

Not a good memory for them to have.

If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.--Marcus Tullius Cicero

sidsmom · ‎11-25-2011

There are so many red flags here.....

bathina · ‎03-14-2010

On 6/13/2014 Marienkaefer2 said:
I don't believe jail or fines are the answer here.

This incident occurred in Reading, PA, which is among the cities with the highest poverty levels in the whole country. And with that kind of poverty comes all the other problems.

This is only a symptom of much larger issues at play.

Now there are younger children left behind, who only know their mother was hauled off to jail and died there.

Not a good memory for them to have.

You read my mind. Now her kids will have to be placed. IMO, ultimately she was punished for being poor (and all that comes with it).

As Becki said, the child or children that caused this to happen will live with it forever.

Marienkaefer2 · ‎03-09-2010

Bathina, I knew you would get it.

I saw a documentary piece about Reading and the area near it within the last year. Very bad poverty situation there. Unfortunately, these are "throwaway" people in our society. We do not hear about them or pay much attention to the issues, and the cycle continues.

They are forced to submit to rules that they cannot possible adhere to (the mother paying fines).

The larger issues that lead to the truancy (and other problems) need to be addressed,but we as the larger community do not have the interest.

If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.--Marcus Tullius Cicero

pinkskates4 · ‎03-10-2010

On 6/13/2014 bathina said:
She didn't work. Sounds like she had a hard time- poor, no help at home, kids everywhere...someone said the kids "ruled the roost". The judge reluctantly sentenced her.

http://www.cleveland.com/nation/index.ssf/2014/06/woman_dies_in_jail_while_servi_1.html

The article says the fines go back to 1999 - so clearly this has been going on for a long time - and they have tried to work with her.

What should happen in cases like this?

Should they take the children away?

Should they ignore the truancy when it becomes clear fines and other methods of reaching the parents don't work?

I am sorry she died. But unless she clearly had some sort of obvious medical problem, I don't think blaming the fact that she was sent to jail is appropriate either.

kdgn · ‎03-09-2010

CPS offices all over the country are overwhelmed with the numbers they already deal with. Adding truancy wouldn't be a wise step.

But then fining someone who has no money $2000 wasn't a solution either. Now there will be 4 kids in the foster care system-

bathina · ‎03-14-2010

On 6/13/2014 Marienkaefer2 said:
Bathina, I knew you would get it.

I saw a documentary piece about Reading and the area near it within the last year. Very bad poverty situation there. Unfortunately, these are "throwaway" people in our society. We do not hear about them or pay much attention to the issues, and the cycle continues.

They are forced to submit to rules that they cannot possible adhere to (the mother paying fines).

The larger issues that lead to the truancy (and other problems) need to be addressed,but we as the larger community do not have the interest.

${#emotions_dlg.thumbup1}$

scotttie · ‎03-09-2010

On 6/13/2014 kdgn said:
CPS offices all over the country are overwhelmed with the numbers they already deal with. Adding truancy wouldn't be a wise step.

But then fining someone who has no money $2000 wasn't a solution either. Now there will be 4 kids in the foster care system-

Indeed. CPS will be dealing with them now...

pinkskates4 · ‎03-10-2010

On 6/13/2014 Marienkaefer2 said:
Bathina, I knew you would get it.

I saw a documentary piece about Reading and the area near it within the last year. Very bad poverty situation there. Unfortunately, these are "throwaway" people in our society. We do not hear about them or pay much attention to the issues, and the cycle continues.

They are forced to submit to rules that they cannot possible adhere to (the mother paying fines).

The larger issues that lead to the truancy (and other problems) need to be addressed,but we as the larger community do not have the interest.

OK - how should these larger issues be addressed?

It's not enough to just indicate how much you care - what would you do?

The kids need to go to school.

Teachers are apparently overwhelmed with kids that have significant problems - such as truancy and lack of parental attention to their education.

So we can't expect teachers to help.

Apparently this jail time was going to erase her debt for the fines. I guess they could have just done that without jailing her, but I guess they hoped this would finally get a better response from her.

If, as you suggest, she, herself, is overwhelmed and unable to take a parental role with her kids - are you saying they should have been taken away from her?

What do you think the government's role is in parenting her children and/or helping her?

herekitty_kitty · ‎10-19-2011

On 6/13/2014 bathina said:
Unknown right now. I guess my reason for posting this is should parents be jailed because of their kids' truancy? Evidently, this new rule has decreased truancy by 30%....

Yes, they should. Parents need to be responsible for their children and take an active role in their upbringing and education. it's too bad rules have to be implemented to make a parent be an active parent.