Mom Jailed for Letting 10-Year-Old Walk Alone to Town

[Zeedox]

Georgia mom arrested after 11-year-old son walks to town — less than a mile — by himself

A mom in deep red Fannin County, Georgia was arrested two weeks ago and could face a year in jail — all because her son walked less than a mile…

boingboing.net

A mom in deep red Fannin County, Georgia was arrested two weeks ago and could face a year in jail — all because her son walked less than a mile into town by himself. He was days from turning 11.

Brittany Patterson had been out shuttling his brother to a doctor's appointment when the tween, Soren, decided to venture outside on his own, walking towards downtown, Mineral Bluff (which has a population of 370 people). He did not ask his mom before setting out on his adventure, and she later scolded him for leaving.

A few days later, DFCS presented Patterson with a "safety plan" for her to sign. It would require her to delegate a "safety person" to be a "knowing participant and guardian" and watch over the children whenever she leaves home. The plan would also require Patterson to download an app onto her son's phone allowing for his location to be monitored. (The day when it will be illegal not to track one's kids is rapidly approaching.)

With safety plans, the veiled threat is that if you don't sign, your children could be taken away, says DeLugas. In this case, he says, the unspoken deal seems to be: Sign it and the state won't prosecute. If the state does prosecute, Patterson could face a reckless conduct charge, a $1,000 fine, and a year in jail.

JFC. I was 9 and my sister 8 when my mom let us walk to the store (about 3/4 of a mile) for me to buy a toy I had wanted and saved up to buy. It was also 830pm.

 

[Gomez Adams]

When I was a kid and we lived in those shitty apartments on Franklin Road, we used to walk down the street about a mile to a shopping center where the theater was to see movies. I was around 10 or 11 then.

Hell, I was baby sitting a 4 and 6 year old when I was 11 while their parents went out drinking with my parents.