A Georgia city recently passed legislation that would hold parents and legal guardians liable for their children’s criminal actions.
Details on the proposed ordinance holding parents, legal guardians and child custodians accountable
On April 20, the Covington City Council enacted an ordinance with a 4-2 vote. This ordinance allows the council to hold parents accountable for their children’s criminal activities, potentially leading to substantial fines and even months of jail time, according to WSB-TV 2 and The Covington News.
The ordinance applies to natural parents, legal guardians and child custodians over the age of 21 who are responsible for one or more children. It outlines a series of parental responsibilities for these individuals and specifies the crimes that minors might commit that could result in violations and penalties for their parents.
Parents, legal guardians and custodians of children in Covington are required to exercise “reasonable control over the child entrusted to their care,” according to the ordinance. This measure aims to reduce criminal activity among children and minors by holding their parents or guardians accountable for their behavior, according to WSB-TV 2.
Councilman Dwayne Turner on the ordinance: ‘I understand the logic of sometimes these kids are kids’
If these groups do not supervise their children, they may be charged with violations and face fines up to $2,000, 90 days in jail or both.
Councilman Dwayne Turner, who has a background in law enforcement, initiated the item and spoke about how parents or legal guardians sometimes influence or encourage their children’s in bad behavior.
“We have parents that are not being held liable when it comes to their child creating a criminal act,” Turner said, according to The Covington News. “I understand the logic of sometimes these kids are kids. We understand that, right? But I do think parents should do the reasonable amount of effort to stop that act from happening.”
The ordinance outlines several responsibilities for parents, noting that the list is not exhaustive. Under the proposal, they are to keep controlled substances out of the home and out of children’s possession; keep guns away, except for those used for hunting and under supervision; keep children regularly attending school; stop children from willfully or maliciously destroying property; stop children from committing acts that, as an adult, would be disorderly conduct; don’t let children steal or possess stolen items; and prevent children from obtaining or having alcoholic beverages, per WSB-TV 2.
After drafts of the initial ordinance plans are approved, city officials will meet with Covington Police and members of the Planning & Zoning Department to discuss options for implementing the initiative.