Teen Attacks Parents over Cellphone Use

This is one of those stories that makes you stop and think. Some parents really have no control over their kids. Discipline seems to be a concept of a bygone era. Some children have lost all respect for parental authority. The following story may not be typical of the problems most parents face but at the same time it is not as uncommon as you might believe.

The following appeared in the news journal Delawareonline.com written by Ira Porter dated Jan.26, 2009:

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A 16-year-old Laurel girl threatened her parents with two large kitchen knives early Sunday after her father confiscated her cell phone.

The frightened parents retreated into their bedroom and locked the door, then called police. It took officers about 10 minutes to calm the girl and persuade her to put down the knives, Delaware State Police said.

"I can't comment on the state of mind of the juvenile, but this is one extreme example of a teenager having something as little as her phone taken away from her and how it affected her emotionally," said Cpl. Bruce Harris.

State police said they were called to the home in the 11000 block of Sandy Ridge Drive at about 3 a.m.

Police said the girl's father heard her talking on the phone in her bedroom, and knew that there were no minutes left on her phone.

He said he suspected the girl had stolen money from her mother's purse earlier in the day to purchase minutes on a prepaid card, Harris said.

After the father took the phone from the girl, she became angry, grabbed two large kitchen knives and threatened her parents, police said.

The parents locked themselves in a bedroom and called police. Police said the teen violently attacked the door.

Police responded and talked the girl into putting the knives down after 10 minutes of negotiating. She was charged with possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony, two counts of aggravated menacing, terroristic threatening, disorderly conduct, theft, criminal mischief and possession of a deadly weapon by a person prohibited.

She was committed to Stevenson House after failing to pay $14,000 secured bond.

The William Marion Stevenson House Detention Center is a lock-secure facility staffed for 55 pre-adjudicated male and female youth under the age of 18 years old, located in Milford, Delaware.

Several types of programs are available: HIV prevention, pregnancy prevention, aggression resistance, and drug education. Certified providers offer medical, dental, and psychological services. Religious services of various faiths are regularly scheduled or can be provided upon request.

Academic education is provided by public education teachers. Credits received in these facilities can be transferred towards a high school diploma or GED.

Throughout the resident’s stay, staff maintain contact with the family to assist in adjusting the youth’s behavior towards becoming a better citizen. Services are available to assist them in providing guidance to help their child to meet this goal.

They also have a strict policy with regards to telephone use:

Once a youth is admitted, they are given the opportunity to make two phone calls; after those calls, all phone calls are collect. Each resident will be given a PIN number and only allowed to make outgoing calls to the phone numbers on their phone sheet. Residents may receive phone calls from court workers, social workers, attorneys, DFS workers, and Aftercare/Probation workers at any time. Resident may telephone their attorney at any reasonable time if the attorney agrees to accept the call or the charges. Residents may call parents, legal guardians, foster parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and siblings as indicated on their phone sheet.

At least here there seems to be strict discipline. I am sure the teen who thought is was OK to pull a knife on her parents will have a long time to think about actions and consequences. She will in all likelihood end up with a criminal record which might follow her for the rest of her life. Did things really have to go this far??