Parents in North Tonawanda, New York, can be held accountable if their children break city laws — including bullying laws — thanks to new rules approved by local lawmakers, ABC News reported.
City attorney Luke Brown told the network news that penalties for parents range from a $250 fine to up to 15 days in jail if their children break city laws twice within a 90-day period.
“In reality, what we’re looking for is to engage the parents in the process and try and work on a solution,” Brown said.
Local mother Victoria Crago began advocating for the parental accountability law after she said her middle school-aged son was attacked by a classmate in front of her in May.
“This young man just sucker-punched him right in the face and hit him as hard as he could,” she told ABC News. “What really alarmed me about the situation was the brazen act of violence in front of a parent.”