Sounds like she needs a good scare. I think it's justified.

If she's a minor and takes her fathers car out for a "joy ride" he will also be responsible for any accidents, injuries, etc. that occur. Her actions could ruin both of their lives, if not more.
The charges should stand.

Couldn't he mete out a harsh punishment without pressing criminal charges, though? Once you're in 'the system' I'd think you might be more likely to get in trouble again. My thoughts ...

^5 to the father! The children these days get away with way to much. If we as parents cannot teach our children that there are consequences for their actions before they reach the age of 18, the Broward County Jail will teach them for us. It takes a lot of strength as a parent to teach our children the lesson of right and wrong and sticking to it. Hopefully, she learns her lesson from this.

two times? she needs to be locked up in juvenile jail.

Did she hot wire the car or shouldn't he have done a better job hiding his keys, anyway?

Guess you can all say these things because you are all saints. 12 year olds are not adults and should not be treated as such. Scared stright has never worked. Its like leaving your kids on the side of the road because they are misbehaving in the car. All you do is end up with even more problems including abandonment and resentment issues. Sounds like there is some parenting and discipline issues going on. We are so quick to judge.

Having been in a very similar situation with my son, I took the advice of a police officer (neighbor) who told me that the only way for my son to get help would be to continue to turn him in and the courts would eventually see that he got it. What he ended up getting was a lengthy juvenile record and ultimately a five year stay in prison. This girl is too young to be put through the system thereby building a criminal history. I believe that the parent should consider other avenues for getting help for his child BUT I am not in his shoes and am not judging him in any way. I just wanted to say that sometimes turning them in only makes matters worse.

Once. Just once would I have pulled something like this as a 12 year old child. The significant emotional event my father would have inflicted upon me would have ensured that I never attempted it a second time.

I'm sure the dad is under strain already since his toddler is in the hospital. And so is the 12-year-old, who is the older sibling. Something else to consider.

Who cares? How about everyone worry about how they raise their children instead of how everyone else raises theirs. And while we are at it, it is not the responsability of the schools, teachers, police or courts to raise your children. Step up to the plate and teach your kids good moral values.

I disagree with you, Fed Up. Parents watch and learn from other parents. Doesn't it 'take a village' to raise a child?

NEVER EVER USE THE LEGAL SYSTEM - ALTHOUGH ONLY 12,THIS CRIMINAL CHARGE WILL BE WITH HER AND VISIBLE BY SOME FOR THE REST OF HER LIFE!!!

The Dad did the right thing. Parents in the 70's (at least in my hometown) delivered these scares to their kids all the time. Steal a candy bar? Expect your parents to take you to the police station and have you put into a holding cell for a few hours, get finger printed, and photographed and get to meet some of the other prisoners and decide if that's how you want to live your life or learn to straighten up and fly right. Heck, I took my own son, when he was six years old, to a Dairy Queen that was next to a county prison, and while we ate our ice cream, he watched the prisoners in the prison yard. I told him how they never had anyone tuck them in, never got visits from Santa Claus, only got to see their families on visiting days, didn't have their favorite items from home, couldn't go to the movies or to the park or hang out with friends, etc....and it scared him enough to know that that wasn't where he wanted to end up. He remembers that trip to Dairy Queen to this day, years later. Sometimes kids need to be scared by the reality of what is facing them if they make the wrong choices. The Dad did right. 100%.

This is the second time - good for Dad - maybe this will scare some sense into her - she seems to do whatever she wants even with her younger sister in the hospital? Like her Dad does not have enough to worry about. Get real.

i need to know more information about the girls past behaviours,,,however, dad may be doing the right thing as a form of "tough love". As far as the criminal record, most likely, she will be absolved of any record, or it will be "sealed" (no one can access it, as if it didnt exist)

But going through a court protocol often "scares a kid straigt".

I had a 17 year old son, who did steal my car (while i was away on vacation) and I did have the option to charge grand theft. I opted not to, and in hindsight, I wish i did.

i need to know more information about the girls past behaviours,,,however, dad may be doing the right thing as a form of "tough love". As far as the criminal record, most likely, she will be absolved of any record, or it will be "sealed" (no one can access it, as if it didnt exist)

But going through a court protocol often "scares a kid straigt".

I had a 17 year old son, who did steal my car (while i was away on vacation) and I did have the option to charge grand theft. I opted not to, and in hindsight, I wish i did.

Couldn't he mete out a harsh punishment without pressing criminal charges, though? Once you're in 'the system' I'd think you might be more likely to get in trouble again. My thoughts ...

Posted by: Brittany Wallman | May 19, 20
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Maybe Dad already tried other methods of discipline for previous bad behaviours. She would be more likely to get in trouble again, if she goes unpunished. Maybe the legal system is the only way, in this case..

BTW, my 17 year old, who was indeed a criminal (drugs, drug dealing etc) during his teen years? In fact, he had a gun to his head at one point in his life at age 18. Me and him were estranged (by my choice, until he "cleaned up his act". It was the worst 2 years of my life, not knowing where he was or what he was doing)

-He is now 25, self sufficient, making an honest living as a personal trainer. He cares about his body and health, east and drinks the right things. and knows right from wrong. I am meeting him for lunch at 2 pm today.

gotta go, see ya.

Advice to parents.
a) you are the "parent", not their 'friend". You do what is needed, despite all the "i hate you"s!" that come from your childs mouth. (of course they hate you. You are in their way of them wanting to do the wrong things!)
b) be willing to suffer along with the child during discipline.

this dad is really having his hands full.he doesn't have four eyes.kids nowadays can get any parent in trouble by calling the police if you discipline them.sometimes you have to be firm. my question is where is mom in all this?

This man is to be applauded. Too often, parents shield their children from consequences. It is no wonder many kids grow up to be adults who do not take responsibility for their actions. What I find amazing is that the writer implies that the father is "doing" this to the child. The child chose to steal the car, too crash it, to flee from police. That decision and her actions have consequences. Because it was her father's car makes no difference.

Better now then a lifetime of jail! She's done this before & whatever he/they tried didn't stop her so now he is taking more drastic steps and why should any parent have to lock up or hide car keys from a 12 yr old? I doubt very much that he wants to send his child to jail, but steps have to be taken to stop her before she hits and kills someone. Also who's to say she won't take ANYONES keys next time?

I had a run in with the law and to this day must explain a mistake I made when I was young. I have totally changed my life but the misktake continues to follow me and has prevented me from jobs. If this father truly loves his daughter, he will get her the help she needs and contact the State Attorney to drop the charges. This is something wish on mo one!

I had a run in with the law and to this day must explain a mistake I made when I was young. I have totally changed my life but the misktake continues to follow me and has prevented me from jobs. If this father truly loves his daughter, he will get her the help she needs and contact the State Attorney to drop the charges. This is something wish on mo one!

there is obviously more issues for this disfunctional family then just stealing the car, she will be pregnant by 15.

Second time. . .absolutely the father did right thing pressing charges. Until they are 18, the parents are liable for their children's actions. If someone had gotten killed or injured during her little incident; then those who now say now let her alone & be a kid . . .would it still be OK ? There are enough illegal adults on the road without adding underage teenagers.

It's sound like the family is in stress - sibling in the hospital, no mention of mom, and second time car was taken. This could be a cry for attention or help from the younger child. At 12 the child is probably going thru her own pre-teen dilemma's. I hope the Dad or Attorney rethink this and give the 12 year what she needs. Jail or time away from the family is not the answer. Love is.

The father needs his arse kicked for not SHOWING his child Right from Wrong - he should go to jail instead of the kid.Let me have the father for about 5 min's to LEARN him

we have just been through a similar incident except our son took 2 vehicles in the same day. He has no license and my first fear was that he could have killed someone and how it could have devestated alot of lives. Why should we be easy on them when they choose to do wrong over and over. This was not his first time either! I feel like the one who has done something wrong, we are the ones having to lock up our keys to our cars that we work hard to pay for! THE DAD IS RIGHT!!!

The article said that this is the second time she has driven off in a car. It didn't say that each time it was the father's car so obviously she did not stop after the first incident. This is a very serious matter. She could have taken innocent lives all because she didn't listen. She knows this behavior is wrong but continues any way. It must be very tough for the father to have to come to such a difficult decision. Maybe he is saving her life and yours or mine.

when my son was seven I found out he was shoplifting...I had him arrested, finger printed and put in jail by our children's resource officer...tough love sometimes works.. he himself has now been a police office for over 10 years...and still remembers..

Funny. Liberals like to argue about how youngsters today are already going to be engaging in risky behaviors (so let's provide them with resources, birth control, condoms, etc.), rather than.. PARENTING. Well, I know that this is a different issue, and I know that no one ended up dead or injured (thank God) but certainly if this child is mature enough to make decisions about risky behavior, then she is mature enough to deal with the consequences.

The consequences are pretty high, and people are acting like the penalty is too stiff, but... I bet the youngster is not at all phased by the consequence of a permanent blot on her record. Hopefully, this harsh penalty will teach her something. But I kinda doubt it.

I am related to this young girl and I am glad my father pressed charges. Her behavior is horrific and she deserves to have this charge on her record forever. This is not the first time she has been in trouble

I am related to this young girl and I am glad my father pressed charges. Her behavior is horrific and she deserves to have this charge on her record forever. This is not the first time she has been in trouble

Ashley, I'm sorry your family's troubles are such that they're now fodder for all of us to discuss. I really hope your family gets back together, whole, and that this young girl does reform herself. And of course, that the little one in the hospital will be OK.

For all these upright uptight people saying that charging her was the right thing to do, how many of YOU have a criminal record? Guess what it does to help stop you from committing crimes? NOTHING! That's why a lot of people have a rap sheet longer than a guestlist! There has to be a better way. Try getting a job or living an honest life in today's BS judgmental society with a grand theft auto charge, or any other felony. See how it is then!

good for him.shame HE'D wind up in jail if he gave her the a$$ whooping she so obviously needs.lets hope this straightens up her act.