runaway daughter

[sewing pink]

What is the name of your state?What is the name of your state?California

 

[sewing pink]

California. Our 17 year old daughter who has been in the JDC (Juvenille Drug Court) program for the past year and who has been in and out of JV Hall 6 times during the past year has taken off. We did not know where she was for 3 weeks and while we still do not know...she did call and tell us she is ok with "friends" and will not get caught as now she is violation of the terms of her probation. We are at the point of realizing that the "system" has failed to work in any way, shape or form. We are a christian family and love our daughter deeply and are wondering about what they can do to her at this point. She was due to get out of JDC and off probation in June. We have always cooperated in every way with probation and the system but know know this was the wrong road to take with her as it has made her hard, exposed her to more "bad acquaintances" and educated her in how to manipulate the system. I am worried sick about her. Please help if you have any knowledge or experience in this area. Thank you. I would advise loving parents everywhere not to take the road we have in holding her accountable. The "system" only ties your hands as parents. Stay out of it!

 

[Wolflmg]

Did you report her as a runaway?

 

[CdwJava]

I am well acquainted with the juvenile justice system in CA and it woefully lacking. However, NO juvenile system can do better than parents. And tough love can often be the last chance a child has before they become an adult and a future felon.

You need to report her as a runaway to help protect yourself and allow the authorities to pick her up if they find her. Soon, she'll be an adult and she'll still have this juvenile beef hanging over her head ... only the next time she will be doing adult time for her crimes.

Pray for her and be there for her when she needs support. But don't coddle her or enable her behavior.

- Carl

 

[sewing pink]

[Thank you for the advise. We have alerted her probation officer the day after she did not come home. I have not heard from her P.O. since. My daughter has this mindset that the "system" knows she does not really belong in it and they are going to look the other way while she does her thing. We have certainly implimented tough love, letting the consequences of her actions occur without continually saving her. We have always tried to show her love while doing this. She just continues down this path of self-destruction...hooking up with one bad acquaintance after the other. Truly we are at the point where all we can do is pray...which is the most important thing anyway. Sometimes the pain over her just gets overwhelming.