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Topic for
5/20/96: |
Should parents be legally accountable (and therefore prosecutable) for the crimes that their children commit? |
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Name: Mel
Email:
Response:
All depends, a child can be raised with the up most respect, church going, knowing right from wrong, the do's and don't's, teaching that child about don't do drugs, be careful about sex, diseases and all the things you DON'Twant your child to do or get involve in, once they start hanging out with a NON-POSITIVE group of peers they develop a mind of their own it's over. And as parents you try to help and guide them they think they always know much more than you. Now if a child has parents that just the opposite, well then that's different. The parents should be blamed. So, it's not ALL parents should be responsible for their children's actions because every situation is different.
Name: Nate LaMartina
Email: N_LaMartina@prodigy.com
Response:
Right now I'm doing a debate in school on this very topic. While searching on the 'net, I've found some very mixed opinions. Some say that a child wants to be treated like a grownup, so they should take on the responsibility of a grownup. Others say that A child is just that, a child. Here's what I think. Everyone says that when you have a baby, you are resonible for them. This responsibility does not stop after the baby's born. It continues until they're grownups themselves. If a child is getting into trouble, such as gunning someone down, the parent has not done their job as a parent. Maybe I'm just saying this because I'm 14, but that's what I think. Yes, they should be held accountable.
Name: Denise Rhones
Email: Denise.Rhones@rw.doe.gov
Response:
No, I don't think they should be responsible for their crimes. Some kids may have to grow up in the projects, but don't have to be a product of that enviroment. IF the parents teach them the right way and they still stray it's on the child to become responsible enough to handle the situation. Only parents can guide them in the right direction with the help of ALMIGHTY GOD!!!!
Name: Mitchell Christian
Email: addesign@premier1.net
Response:
I just want say on thing....THE CHILD SHOULD ME MADE ACCOUNTABLE!!!
Name: Keith D. Smith
Email: ksmith@snycorva.cortland.edu
Response:
There may already be some precedent for holding parents legally responsible for the actions of their children. The most salient issue is whether the child knows right from wrong and, after deciding something was 'wrong', decided to do it anyway.
If it can be established that parents were remiss in discharing parental responsibility, e.g., failing to teach the child widely-held standards of right vs. wrong, then I think it is appropriate to hold parents responsible for failing to perform the duty that society reasonably expects parents to do as part of their job.
I think the discussion, though, often gets detoured into holding parents responsible for the actions of their children generally. There has to be a line that separates the independent actions of a child, for which he or she SHOULD be held 'responsible', from those actions that the child has no clue about the appropriateness of because the parent has failed to raise the child.
Society has every right to expect all persons, even children, to be responsible for rational, independent acts. We have, however, always separated those acts done by persons who are assumed to not have the ability to make well thought out decisions, e.g., very young children, mentally retarded, etc.
Name: Terry
Email: dotworks@worldnet.com
Response:
Seems to me this is a question really of nature versus nurture. My parents decided to be accountable to my behavior good or bad from the day I screamed coming into this world until I was able to take care and be responsible for myself. And it's because of that initial reaction that my parents chose nuture. They did not allow the streets to claim me or my four brothers or two sisters. With the little they had, it was substance that mattered. If I can do half of what they did for me, my son will be alright. I pray I won't have to pull out of anyplace I didn't send him (jail).My point is simple, we need to start providing ways our young people can freely express themselves without being riduculed, analized or cursed. I will use every method availble to me to nurture my beautiful "Black Butterfly". My parents showed me the way they inspired all seven of us to be "just ourselves" and not what record, tv show or picture said we should be. There were also times they showed they love through pulling us in the back of our necks when we got out of hand. We need to give our children our undivided attention to hear what's on their minds 'cause we all know that it's hard being just a "kid".
Name: Jim Scott
Email: jscott@erols.com
Response:
Yes, parents should be responsible for the conduct of their children as their children misbehave as juveniles. However, if the child commits an act for which the child can be held accountable as an adult, then the responsibility becomes that of the child.
Name: Paula
Email: pending
Response:
There should be some accountablity for parents when their children committ crimes, skip school, or respond in a violent nature. I am an educator by profession, and I am appalled by the behavior of some of our children and the lack of support we get from home. I have friends who mentor young African-American boys, taking them on trips, helping them with homework etc., some of the mentors after working with the young men for almost one year have yet to meet a parent. The children are sent to meet the mentors, are allowed to go on these trips, and the only communication between the adults is via a note.I agree, there a economic factors involved, but we need to take back the responsiblity for raising our children and stop relying on the system, the schools,or the kind gentlemen down the street to teach our children values, and respect for self and others.
Name: Petrease..Houston, TX
Email:
Response:
Parents should be held accountable to the degree that they have instilled good, honest values in their children. If they have set a good examples and have been positive role models, and the child has still gone astray, then what else is a parent to do. The only thing I fell they can do is pray and put them in Gods hands.
Name: Sherise
Email: slanays@umich.edu
Response:
parents should NOT, I said NOT be held "legally responsible" for the actions of their children.
when the isssue first reared its ugly head i knew exactly who would be held "responsible" and who would not. how can a country such as ours that REFUSES to provide the proper resources to raise children (education, childcare, medical coverage, housing, etc) expect our most valued possesions *children* to be productive members of society !!!!!!!!THEN!!!!!!!!!! we want to lock up the parents!
it doesn't take 5 seconds for a frame-up, so your child can be the spitting image of hardwork and discipline but that won't stop the handcuffs from digging into your wrists!
maybe we need to arrest congress the next time somebody's child desides to act a fool!
there are enough adults in this country that are not punished for their OWN crimes, there is no need to start arresting the innocent ones.
Name: Sonya M. Haynes
Email: Mzenger@netcom.com
Response:
In a society that punishes parents who discipline their children, no I do not believe parents should be held accountable for the action of their children.
Name: Bill Shafer
Email: kentshaf@riverview.net
Response:
I do not know any parents who desire to have their kids turn out anything but good. Our country needs to begin to focus on compassion for the difficulty faced by parenthood.
"Legally accountable"? Why should the parent be held accountable for mistakes made by their kids? I believe that the media, schools, environment outside the home all play a major role in the influence of our kids. Rather than blame, let's get behind one another to help our next generation succeed.
Name: Dwight Williamson
Email: rawd@worldnet.att.net
Response:
First the system gives our children the rights and the tools to defy us and then it holds us accountable for their actions. This is not only wrong, it is morally unreasonable. When I went to the Courts, the Schools and other institutions controlling the actions of my own children, I was only told what I couldn't do. This system continues to manipulate and destroy family bonds through the laws and ideals of obligations they create. When I screwed up as a child, my Father was obligated to whip my butt. I didn't fear him. I feared what would happen if I did wrong again. Our children have been led to believe that one whipping will lead to more frequent and more intense ones when they should have been taught punishment comes from misbehaving and all they have to do is stop. The courts and the politicians have taken away my right to chastize my own children but yet I am legally and financially responsible for their actions. They took away my ability to demand respect in my own household and any avenue of restitution when that respect is refused. In essence this system has stripped me of my parental Identity and it realizes that by doing so, it is telling my children (and yours) that you don't have to respect and honor the one's that gave you birth.
As these same children grow older, they use that same attitude when dealing with any form of authority. Many can say that it is up to the parents to keep control of their own but if everything we and our children read, hear and see tells them otherwise then maybe those who yell and profess that the parents should be held accountable planned it that way. We should think things through before we become so willing to accept that which on the surface sounds reasonable.
Name: James Britton
Email: j.britton@postoffice.worldnet.att.net
Response:
I fully agree with holding parents responsible for thier childrens actions. Unfortunately our people have gotten away from the same family values that were taught to us when we were children as far as mannerisms, respect for adults, and respect for others. What ever happened to the days of when children got out of line the neighbors as well as the parents would nip the problem in the bud. The razor straps and the switches may have hurt, but i never been locked up for stealing hurting or killing anyone. We need to go back to those types of chest tizements and put family values back to wear they belong (IN THE PARENTS HANDS)!
Name: Ginny Taylor
Email: sioux528@concentric.net
Response:
Being a parent into society is very difficult. I do not feel that parents should be held accountable for the actions of their children. My opion is centered around the fact that we as parents are not allowed to displine our children. You do not have to actually spank your child all the child has to do is allege you did it and you the parent can find yourself under arrest. You cannot raise your voice because you can also be accused of child abuse. If the goverment does not allow you to raise your child in the manner as you see best than how can the parent be held account for the behavior of a renagade child? When I was a child you got spanked or scolded. As a result we had a respect for our elders, and human life. We did not have drive bys. Man did not call woman hoes or B's. We tried to become the best we could and not make someone feel that there was something wrong with them if they were smart in school we had pride in our self. This is not the case now. No just in Black America but in all America. These kids are our future leaders and right now folks unless some of these kids do a great deal of maturing We as a people and a nation are in a great deal of trouble.
Name: Tyrone E. Wicks
Email: pen0191@tsufl.edu
Response:
I think that it should be on a case by case basis. Some parents work hard at raising their children and leading them in the right direction, but despite their best efforts their child(ren) go astray. Some times it is the economic conditions that they are forced to live in.(ie. Both parents have to work long hours to make ends come close!) Other times it is the parent who has their hands tied by a state agency that holds them accountable but removes their authority. Parents should not become the hat rack that public officials and politicians use to hang their lack of resolve and creativity on!
Name: wildflower
Email: ambersun@infinet.com
Response:
It is inappropriate to blame parents (totally) for the misconduct of their children. Some parents do everything in their power to raise stable, good children, to no avail.
Parents should only be held liable in instances where it is determined that they were neglectful in their parental duties and otherwise contributed to the deliquency of the child.
For the most part, parents take too much blame and guilt for the poor choices that their children make.
The story of Kemba, which was featured in last month's issue of Emerge is a glaring example of this. What more could they have done?
Name: young nubian
Email:
Response:
if a parent can't control their child before they get into trouble, after the child sees that they won't be punished for a crime, that child will believe that they can go out and do basically whatever they want. parent shouldn't be prosecuted, but accountable to be better parents.
Name: Frances Murphy
Email: FrankieLou@aol.com
Response:
Yes!! When children do well parents are the first to take the credit. When a child a breaks the law parents should still be held accountable. You can't just have it one way.
Name: rlands
Email: lands@electric.austin.tx.us
Response:
Parents are acoountable for instilling seeds of high moral character, quality, excellence and service in their children. The coomunity youth live in are accountable for instilling the same seeds, schools, society, etc are all responsible for instilling these seeds in these our young warriors. What we face are youth play acting. Playing actng as men, women, parents. Play acting as adults. Youth do what they see adults do. Every action is the result of some seed planted at sometime in our lives and the youths lives. Should parents be held accountable, YES, if the child is not sanctioned by society as a man or woman. NO if they are. Should parents be prosecuted, only if they led there child to do the act. The word does say fathers(mothers) do not provoke your child to anger/wrath. These are trying times. Remember trees just grow, it is the gardner, husbander that provides the nutrients that will determine how the tree grows. peace.
Name: Gerald Brown
Email: gerald@eee.org
Response:
When I was growing up, I had more fear of what my father would do than the police, because in my mind, my parents rules superceded any laws that might have existed. I think it is that way with my own children, and so far, they have shown no inclination to go the wrong way. I would not punish parent, either. As a previous post stated, "good" parents of "bad" kids punish themselves enough. Perhaps their is a need for parent support groups and parent/children support groups.
Name: Brother Messiah Akindele of MAD Writer Productions
Email: akinyemi@emuvax.emich.edu
Response:
Nubian Americans have come a long way in the struggle for freedom, justice, equality, and balance. Now today in 1996 it seems like we are going backwards and pushing ourselves further in the mud and allowing this racist, capitalist system to take control of our lives. Some of these parents in the Nubian American community need to be arrested for teaching their children lies, deceit, and mis-education. They also need to be prosecuted for allowing their children to do whatever the hell they want to do. How in the world can you profess to be a parent and cannto teach your own child the truth about life and reality. The reason why most children do the things they do is because they either saw it on television (tell-lies-visually), radio, recreation (wrecking-your-creation), or from the home. If you are a parent and you cuss, scream, or fight your spouse then what is most likely that child is going to do? Most likely the same thing because the principal law of the universe is karma..what goes around comes around. Everything is AC/DC. Now another thing is this. Parents need to wake up and realize that the "American" Education system has failed. It's also biased. You know what that means? This means that you are going to learn how to take a break in watching your soaps or watching Ricki Flake (Lake) or chill out watching your football, or the Bulls every night and begin to teach our children the truth about history, science, mathematics, and spirituality. Parents are responsible for the actions of their children until the children can make their own decisions. Even when they make their own decisions that chioce should be monitored as well as discussed of why the choice was made and how do you attend to apply that reasonable choice. Most children, teenagers, and adults CANNOT tell from right and wrong, agreeable and disagreeable because this ability was stripped from you a long time ago. So it is up to the parents, and other older siblings in the family to help our children out. Keep on supporting MAD Writer Productions!!!!! Hotep!!!!
Name: yumelda norton
Email: jjn@wp-lag.mindspring.com
Response:
KNOCK! KNOCK! It's James N. daughter coming through. I don't agree with the statement made that parents should be held responsible for their childrens actions.
By the age of about 10 or 11 children know good and well what they are doing. Parents should not have to take up for their kids actions when they reach that age.
I can understand parents being held responsible for a 6 year old, but a 12 year old? My gosh, when I was 12 I knew good and well what I was doing. Children should also be tried as an adult by the age of 13, because when you reach the teens you know what the difference between right and wrong.I just think that parents (most of them) try their best to do a good job raising their kids and that if their crazy rebelling child goes and does something stupid, the parents should not have to pay for their child's actions.The child should be held accountable for their actions.
Name: Douglas
Email:
Response:
The parents and the child should be held responsible. The parents just for not having any control over their kids. So, give them a fine of 10% of the parents combined salary. If they don't pay send them to jail. The kids should be prosecuted for their crimes. They should also receive counseling with the parents. How many of you would have even thought about comitting some of the crimes these kids are today? Not many...you were too scared of your parents.
Name: Rita
Email: Rita FP@aol.com
Response:
I generally think that these laws are a waste of time. Good parents already care and take responsibility for their children and their behavior. Bad parents don't and a law demanding that they be responsible won't make them.
For a good parent, there is nothing worse than when their child goes bad (and even good parents can have bad children). A law won't strengthen their resolve; it will only add to their pain. For bad parents, it will simply be another level of parenting to sidestep.
Rather than penalizing parents after their child has done bad, let's discuss ways we can support parents in the most important job any human being can have.
Name: Michael 3X
Email: michael3x@earthlink.net
Response:
I think to certain extent parents should be held accountable for their childrens' actions. If that child is of the age of 15 years or less the parent should be held accountable. At that time in a child's life a parent should have molded that childs' behavior and attitude in a way that is socially acceptable. He should know right from wrong and the consequences that arise from the behavior that is deemed unacceptable or against the law. We live in a society where we have babies raising babies and the parent is at an age in most instances where they have no respect for the law because they know that up until a certain age being prosecuted consists of a slap on the wrist and being sent home to mama. And mama is usually the one rasing the perpetrators' child, a duty not asked for but being forced to do because the child has no parenting skills. If we hold these parents accountable for their childrens' actions I think a lot of these young kids will think twice about having sex because they will know that the sins of the son or daughter will be visited upon the mother or father.
Name: Judy P. Johnson
Email: Judy_Johnson@merck.com
Response:
No, I do not believe that parents should be held responsible for their children' crimes. That is the problem with our children today, they are not held responsible for their actions. We must teach them respect for all living things beginning at an early age. And sometimes, I don't care what you do, rather you are good parents, good to the child, his/her likes, education, friends, etc, they just rebell because of the elements that surrounds them. Parent, because I am one--you do the best you can and if you need help through family or friends, seek that help. But getting to the subject, teach them to be responsible for their own actions/re-actions.
Name: Debbie
Email: DBenton659@aol.com
Response:
Persecutable?NO. Accountable?Maybe. What folks fail to realize is...you can do the very best to your ability. You cannot be a watch guard over your child 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Just recently on the news...a 13 year old boy stabs his friend with a knife. QUESTION: Should his parents be legally persecuted? Accountable? NO!
Last month, "EMERGE" did a cover story on a young college girl, whose parents provided for her in every way possible. She was an honor student. She came from a middle class family. This young girl ended up going to Hampton University got in with the wrong group of people and is now serving 20+ years in jail on drug related charges. QUESTION: She her parents be accountable for their daughters actions? NO.
Peer pressure today is 20 times worse today than 20 years ago. Our youth need more guidance, counseling and esteem to make it in today's world. We as adults need less finger pointing and blame shifting and more guidance, talk, understanding and love for our youth.
Name: Brenda
Email:
Response:
NO WAY!!! If may child does the crime he can do his own time. I have never been in trouble before and l did not have kids to do there time for there crimes.
Name: Ginifer Johnson
Email: mjohnson@customcpu.com
Response:
If parents were responisble for what their childreN, then their probibily wouldn't be so much teen violence.If the black children especialy had proper home traning then the violence would drop extremly. Like the bible says TRAIN UP A CHILD IN THE WAY THAT THEY SHOULD GO AND WHEN THEY GROW OLDER THEY WILL NOT DEPART. On the other hand if the children Were Made Responsible For Their Actions We may or may not see a difference in THE BLACK COMMUNITY.Everything starts in tha home.
MUCH RESPECT TO MY BROTHAS AND SISTAS
GINIFER
