Mother of Truant Runaway

[Cilenia]

I live in Lorain County in Ohio. My now 17 year old daughter has been a runaway missing for a year. I have moved during that time and she obviously has not been attending school. The school pressed charges of contributing against me for her truency and had me arrested and I went to court last Oct of 2001. (No notice was sent to my new home or forwarded). They told me to withdraw her from the old school and enroll her in the new school even though she is still a runaway. They apologized to me in court for arresting me. They were never informed she was a run away. Even though the police were as was the school she was attending. BUT the school liason insisted I withdraw her and re inroll her per the "law" even though she would not be attending school and she is almost 18. I went to her old school and formally withdrew her and had them send all the school paperwork to her new school district. I called the new school and explained everything to them and they said If she was ever found before she turned 18 I could come down and we would enroll her and we would access her accedemic standing at that time. The first court hearing and arrest said "Defedant to withdraw child from (old school) and enroll (child) in (new school) district. Defendant to appear in this court for further review on Nov 2, 2001 at 9:30am unless full compliance with this order and notification by liason officer Adam, Kappa. Defendant ordered released."

I did what they told me to do on Oct 24th, 2001 and called the clerk of courts and Adam Kappa and informed them what I had done. On Nov 1, 2001, a warrent was issued for my arrest for failing to appear on Nov 2, 2001 for the review.... YES those are the right dates. I was arrested and taken to court again this month (April) for same charges... prosecutor (who is new), says she never knew child was a runaway... I imformed her I had an attorney (I had my mother call my divorce attorney because he is all I know) and I did all that was required. She recommended to the judge I be released on a signature bond and have a hearing to clear up this misunderstanding.... the judge said "Nope, she has councel now, it's the second time she's been here in my court.... $1500 cash bond." Then he walked out without a further word.

Question: Can I be prosecuted and held for 24 hours without bond first... and such a high bond for a non criminal act... then is there a law governing I should be held contempt for my runaway child not attending school? They are still trying to prosecute me for the truancy according to the prosecutor. This all seems absurd for a mother sick with worry over a runaway, with absolutely no previous record... not even a traffic ticket. The police and courts treated me like I had killed someone... wouldn't even let me talk to my attorney before court.
Please help me!!!!! What are they doing about finding my lost child????? The system seems really messed up if you ask me.
All this is for the good of the child??? What about my 7 year old the had no care about that was with her 15 year old brother at home being babysat while I was out???? And how did they arrest me? It was when the police picked up my runaway daughter and I was attending juvenal court for the unruly charge I had on her and she was released to me... the police arrested me on the truant warrent right there when she was released, no care about what the runaway would do when they took me away crying about my daughter I hadn't seen in a year or my two other children home alone. HELP!!!!!!

 

[tigger22472]

I don't have any legal advice for you but wanted you to know how bad I feel for you. It just doesn't seem right that after you complied they arrested you again and continued to say they didn't know the child was a runaway. One thing I didn't understand is did they find your daughter, release her, arrest you and then she runaway again?? Another question is since she's over 16 can't they just make it as she quit school? In Indiana you can withdrawl at 16. Not that I in any way don't think she should get an education but at that age parents lose a bit of control sometimes. YOu could take her to school, watch her go in and she go out the back door as you are driving away. Hopefully someone can come along with some good sound legal advice.

 

[Cilenia]

Fortunately my boyfriend was in the parking lot when they arrested me and my daughter went to him to help. The police nor the courts have a clue what happened to her nor do they seem to care. In Ohio, I am told by the courts, a child must continue school until 18. She wants to finish, but knows that her age is going to be difficult. I used to home school her and we go back to that route. Now that she is shy of 18 by two months, the schools and courts can't give me a problem about homeschooling.... my mother thinks they are making an example out of me cause so many parents home school around here. Our teachers just don't seem to care about what kids are really learning and I have had many confrontations about teachers not willing to give anything extra to help a student who just doesn't get it as well as the rest. Thank you for your kind words.... everyone seems to feel that way except the judge and the school. I only wish this same judge was just has strict and hard on my ex who saw him for over $10,000 child support and he ordered him to pay $400 within two months. Go Figure.