Teen sent to juvie for refusing to visit his dad

A 14-year-old from Michigan missed a series of court-ordered visits with his father, who has joint custody, so the judge ruled the boy in contempt and sent him to a youth home. The stay was supposed to last four days, but the judge changed his mind after one night. It's not clear why the teen refuses to see his dad. But he says he'd rather go back to juvie than be forced to see him.

Comments

[Searching]

I doubt there is anything wrong with his dad. I imagine, he doesn't like his rules, and was a bit surprised to find out, yes, dad will have you thrown in juvie if you don't meet your obligations, and now is being stubborn back. "Just leave me in there, then." Anything is better than your rules"

14 year olds suck.

[jane]

if I had faced that decision as a 14 year old, I might have chosen juvie too- my dad was/is a horrible person and horrible father.

[c8h10n4o2]

I would have chosen juvie over my mom. Still would.

[Pat the Rat]

I think Search nailed it.

Boys from broken homes who live with mom tend to get away with crap easier, and dad could possibly have stricter house rules.

Take from me, a boy that grew up without a father figure. I got away with more than I could ever admit to my mom. It would kill her to know some of those things.

[Marvin]

Who knows whats really going on? Mom could have been lying about Dad for years, Dad could have been abusive, Dad could have substance abuse problems, no way we can tell anything besides a story about a stubborn 14 year old.

[Quad_Kings]

Marvin is right.

[LouLoug]

Searching...Sounds like you have some unresolved issues.

Jane...DITTO!

Ch8h10n4o2...I feel the same way (except about my Dad)

Pat the Rat...Sounds like you just took advantage of your Mom's leniency. My brother and I were raised my Mom and she was very strict with both of us. You can't blame your actions on the fact that you didn't have a father figure. It sounds to me like you're saying that your Mom was a bad mom...but I doubt she was...she just had an irresponsible child.

and Marvin...Why do you say he's a stubborn 14yr old? Is it simply because he feels strongly about his own happiness and is standing up for it?

[Jellybean]

So... y'all are saying that my son could become a bratty con artist someday if I'm not careful? Great.
However, I have been studying Beavis and Butthead videos to get a real feel for how boys think.

[Drasil]

I think "dumb and dumber" would probably be closer Jellybean.

[roxorz]

Dumb and Dumber applies to even older guys in my experience. >.<

[Urban_Ted]

This is why people should never have kids. They suck the money and life right out of you.

[Ralfred]

Way too little info to know what his reasons are.

Maybe dad just came back into his life and son doesn't want to see him.

Maybe son sides with mom and is refusing to see dad to stay on mom's good side.

Maybe all of son's "toys" are at mom's and he is bored at dad's place.

Probably all of son's friends are in mom's neighborhood.

Once my step-kids reached 13, they fought not to see their dad and by 16 we let them stop.

[silverside]

I think there is another issue here, which is the abuse of state and judicial power. Jailing in juvenile detention centers is supposed to be criminal activity--not because you don't want to have a relationship with someone. The whole idea that you could be hauled away by the police--juvenile or not-- because you don't "like" somebody scare me to death, and reeks of police state tactics.

Frankly, the fact that the father would go along with this makes me wonder what his true motives are. To "heal" the father-son relationship or show how much arbitrary abusive power he can get away with? Do you think having an honors student hauled away in handcuffs and jailed proves much beyond the fact that the Judge and the father are out of control and drunk on power?

[Annoyed]

Silverside I agree with you.

[Ralfred]

Contempt of court is considered criminal activity.

This will clearly not enhance the father/son relationship.

[Jellybean]

Ralfred makes a very good point. My ex was very upset one day that the kids didn't want to see him (he doesn't come around often, and they generally worship him when he does). I was perplexed for a moment too because I know they're sick of me.
But, then I realized it was just as Ralfred was saying - home is where their STUFF is. That's all. They don't care if the ex and I both take a hike, as long as they're at home with their stuff.
I wish the ex and I could just trade houses for his visitations so the kids wouldn't have to be uprooted anyway. But, that plan didn't work out.

[Patricia Kobe]

If the child is old enough to be sent to juvi. I would think he should be old enough to make the choose if he wants to see his dad or not. For all we know there could be a valid reason he does not want to see his dad. I guess they think sending him to juvi will make him want to see his dad.