Brittany Patterson, 41, said she was shocked that her son's stroll could lead to a criminal charge.

Summary

Brittany Patterson, 41, was shocked to face a criminal charge for alleged reckless conduct when her unsupervised 10-year-old son walked less than a mile from their home.

Although authorities offered to drop the charge if she agreed to always supervise her children, Patterson refuses to sign, insisting she did nothing wrong and will fight the charge, which could lead to up to a year in jail.

Her lawyer argues that parents should have discretion over their children’s whereabouts, questioning if constant GPS tracking is now expected. Patterson was released on $500 bail.

  • FinishingDutch@lemmy.world
    261·
    1 month ago

    This really feels insane, even for this day and age. Which makes me think we’re probably not getting the entire story.

    If true, it’s downright silly. Back in the 80’s, we were out of the house unsupervised for hours. Parents just about encouraged you take candy from friendly strangers or to hitch a ride in their cool white van with ‘Free Puppies’ written on it. As long as you made it home without broken bones, they didn’t care. Ask anyone from my generation.

    • AA5B@lemmy.world
      1·
      1 month ago

      I think it’s all on the parent saying they didn’t know where the kid was, the kid saying his parents didn’t know where he was.

      I wonder how my parents would have responded when I was little, “in the woods”? “Up the street at one of the neighbors”? Or “I don’t know”?

      • rozodru@lemmy.world
        4·
        1 month ago

        I mean when I was a kid in the late 80s/early 90s on weekends my parents generally had no clue where I was as long as I was home by dinner. and if I wasn’t going to be home by dinner then to call and say so. payphones were everywhere, just call and let them know.

        I mean hell I remember one time my friends and I were in some store a good 5 miles away from home and my parents happened to be shopping there at the same time. my mom comes up to me and says “I saw a tshirt you might like, do you want it?” and showed me the shirt and I said sure and that was it “see you later tonight”.

        • AA5B@lemmy.world
          1·
          1 month ago

          That’s great. We weren’t near civilization so on a bike somewhere in the neighborhood or somewhere back in the woods.

          My parents put a huge bell on the side of the house and basically said be home for dinner, make sure you hear the bell.