Jail time for too many absentees?

By Elizabeth Zwirz on May 29, 2012

Everyone has had those days where they just didn’t want to go to school. Whether you were actually sick or just needed the day off, the break was definitely better than school. But would you have the sick days if you thought you might go to jail? Is that even possible? You might think not, but that’s exactly what happened to one Texas high school student.

(Photo courtesy of the Huffington Post)

Diane Tran, a 17-year-old attending Willis High School, was ordered by the court to spend a night in a jail as a result of missing too much school, according to The Huffington Post.

But why did the girl miss so much school? Well, she was working two jobs to support her younger siblings. Sometimes she was just too exhausted to go. Tran’s parents are divorced and neither of them live in the area anymore. This has forced her to constantly work and move in with another family for extra support.

Aside from working two jobs, Tran is also an honors student. In an interview with KHOU-11, she said she takes AP Spanish, college-level Algebra, as well as dual credit history and English courses. Her classmate, Devin Hill, said she often goes from school to one job and the other and then stays up until the early morning to finish her homework.

But while jail time may seem like a harsh form of punishment for the crime committed, it is perfectly legal in the state of Texas. According to the law, if a student has ten or more absences in a six-month time frame, the district may send the case to a juvenile court. That is exactly what happened to Diane Tran.

According to KHOU-11, a judge warned Tran this past April that she was missing too much school. But when the behavior continued, they decided to make an example of her and sentence her to a night in jail and a $100 fine.

But the public has learned about her predicament and has been beyond sympathetic to the girl’s story. The Louisiana Children’s Education Alliance has set up a website, HelpDianeTran.com, and has thus far raised over $2,000. People have also started a petition on Change.org to get the judge to repeal the sentencing.

One commentator on the site states, “This remarkable young woman doesn’t deserve jail. She deserves a medal.”

Since the verdict came out, the judge has said he would think about changing his mind. But if not, Tran will have to do time in jail.

What do you think about this punishment? Does it fit the crime? Or is it completely ridiculous?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eJrKi0jKao

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