The push to hold parents criminally responsible for their children’s actions has gained momentum in the wake of high-profile school shooting cases in Michigan and Georgia. In both cases, the parents of the shooters were convicted and sentenced to lengthy prison terms after prosecutors argued they enabled the attacks by ignoring warning signs and failing to prevent them.
Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates said he supports the approach.“Well, I think the best way to do it, without a doubt, is you look to hold the parent or guardian accountable,” Bates said.
Bates pointed to the impact of the Michigan case. “I think when you look at the case in Michigan, that had national implication,” he said.
He argued that the threat of parental accountability can change behavior before a child gets deeper into trouble. “Because what it does is that first line of defense if a parent knows that they could potentially be held responsible for their children's action, now they have more of a want and desire to ensure that their children are headed in the right direction,” Bates said.
Asked whether his office has already taken that step, Bates said, “We have charged a couple parents and we have held them accountable.”
In Washington, D.C., after a violent incident at a Chipotle earlier this year, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said her office would pursue parents as well as juveniles. On May 18, Pirro delivered a blunt warning: “We will arrest you, and where we can we will prosecute you aggressively and we will prosecute your parents.
But some experts question whether charging parents is an effective approach juvenile crime.
Dr. Eve Brank, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln professor who studies juvenile justice, said the evidence is limited. “We really don't know at this point,” Brank said.
She also warned that enforcement may not fall evenly across communities. “Your lower income parents, single parents, parents of color are disproportionately likely to face enforcement of these laws,” Brank said.
Dr. Eve Brank tells Spotlight on America that research on parental accountability strategies is limited. (Spotlight on America / Zoom)
Bates said prosecutors are not trying to punish parents who are doing everything they can, including single parents working multiple jobs. When asked whether it is fair to “go after that single mom working two, three jobs to make ends meet" when her kid is breaking laws as a juvenile, Bates said, “Well, that's very difficult.” He added, “We have to look at every case by case,” and emphasized, “We don't want to penalize them. The law would be for parents who have decided to turn a blind eye.”
Other factors are also driving prosecutors toward parental accountability. In some jurisdictions, mechanisms for holding juveniles accountable are limited or ineffective, and repeat offenders can face little punishment, prompting some prosecutors to consider charging parents.
Brank said one of the most effective ways to rein in unruly behavior is consistent parenting that starts early. She noted that when a child grows up without order and consequences, it can be difficult to get them to 'buy in' if a parent suddenly tries to introduce structure later
Footage from a Tampa Police Department helicopter from a rowdy teen takeover in May. (Tampa Police Dept.)
In cases like teen takeovers, Brank said social media can act as an accelerant when juveniles receive attention from their peers.
Whether more jurisdictions ultimately embrace parental accountability laws remains an open question.