'Exhausted' Honor Student, jailed for truancy

Status
Not open for further replies.
I made the horrid mistake of reading the Huffington Post article about this. Or, more to the point, I read the comments. I was stunned by the number of assholes who actually supported the judge's decision. What in the fuck is wrong with humanity?

They're most likely trolls.
 
Zoe here is making good points. When I posted the article on Facebook, a friend of mine immediately asked the same questions. Regardless, the judge is a piece of crap but there's some fishy stuff here.

Numerous people in here have been wondering those questions as well.

Nothing about the story makes any sense. I don't know why a newspaper in Texas isn't doing their job and figuring out what the hell is up with this entire situation.
 
Can we setup some kind of small donation for this girl so that at least she won't be hurt by the day in jail and the $100 fine?

Somebody also needs to find her parents and beat their asses.
 
http://helpdianetran.com/

About Us

HelpDianeTran.com is a project of the Louisiana Children's Education Alliance, a 501c3 organization. Website donated by Gatorworks. Online donations powered by Anedot. 100% of the money raised (less any credit card processing or transaction costs) will go to help Diane Tran and her family. If you have any questions or comments, you can contact us via Facebook.com/HelpDianeTran or call 504-222-2920.

Don't know if they are legit or not, but I thought maybe a US gaffer would be able to find out.
 
http://helpdianetran.com/



Don't know if they are legit or not, but I thought maybe a US gaffer would be able to find out.

I don't think I could donate to this in good conscience without knowing how the money would be spent. It's pretty obvious the adults around her haven't been doing anything in her best interests.

http://www.khou.com/home/People-acr...nor-student-jailed-for-truancy-154235505.html
Tran lives with the family of her part-time employer. They are working on setting up a fund in her name at a local bank.

Why didn't they do anything the first time she was sent to court?

Edit: this was pointed out today:

http://www.khou.com/news/Jail-offer...t-jailed-after-missing-school--155508335.html
KHOU 11 News legal analyst Gerald Treece pointed out that Tran did not go to jail on a truancy charge.  It’s a Class C misdemeanor and not a jail-able offense. But contempt of court is, and that’s the charge on her record.
The contempt is for violating a previous court order to not to miss school.
 
I don't think I could donate to this in good conscience without knowing how the money would be spent. It's pretty obvious the adults around her haven't been doing anything in her best interests.

http://www.khou.com/home/People-acr...nor-student-jailed-for-truancy-154235505.html


Why didn't they do anything the first time she was sent to court?

Edit: this was pointed out today:

http://www.khou.com/news/Jail-offer...t-jailed-after-missing-school--155508335.html

Sweet. Jailing minors for contempt of court for actions outside the court. Woo!
 
Possibly, but they reeked of just enough stupidity to be real. "The law is the law" being the most common argument. People who say that should be thrown in jail.

A lot of people are sheep who can't think for themselves. When an authority figure says something they take it as an absolute moral truth with no middle ground at all.
 
Totally legit usage of contempt of court (ignoring a court order). That said in context still complete bullshit.

Putting a minor in jail for going to work is legit? Nah. That's a rubbish court order. It may be legit to put people in jail for ignoring court orders, but that one is rubbish.
 
Putting a minor in jail for going to work is legit? Nah. That's a rubbish court order. It may be legit to put people in jail for ignoring court orders, but that one is rubbish.

The order was to go to school, not to not go to work. As long as she's an enrolled student, it is legitimate to order her to attend school.
 
The order was to go to school, not to not go to work. As long as she's an enrolled student, it is legitimate to order her to attend school.

Yes yes, legitimate and all that. Jailed for not going to school because she went to work, while still passing everything at school. I don't care about the technicalities that make it legal, it is stupid. It is ridiculous. And it reflects a judicial system without compassion or common sense.
 
http://www.chron.com/news/houston-t...-against-honor-student-jailed-for-3596613.php
The 17-year-old Willis High School honor student whose 24-hour stay in jail for excessive truancy drew national attention had the charge rescinded Wednesday, records show.

Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Lanny Moriarty, at the Montgomery County District Attorney's request, signed an order that vacates the contempt of court conviction that sent Diane Tran to jail last week.

The decision clears the way for the issue to be expunged from her record.

The action was taken, in part, after Moriarty looked at the extenuating circumstances that had resulted in Tran missing school and because her court summons had failed to notify her of her right to an attorney or to have one appointed for her, officials said.

Moriarty had counseled Tran the first time she was summoned to his court for excessive truancy April 25. He explained the importance of going to class and ordered her to start attending regularly.

But on May 23 Tran was brought back for failing to attend an additional four days as well as portions of another four days.

During her court appearance, however, Tran never revealed any personal struggles to the court.

She was living three or four days a week with the owner of a wedding venue, The Vineyards of Waverly Manor, the owner's granddaughter, Starla Hill said.

"The rest of the time she is staying at her own apartment where her father visits her when he's not working in Houston," Hill said.

It's really baffling that none of the adults in her life did anything to stop this. And what is a high school junior doing living alone in her own apartment? CPS should have been all over this.
 
so this all could of been avoided if she just told the judge?..what?!
She's a kid with no lawyer. How could a judge not prod a bit more before sending her to jail?

The only thing I can think now that that parts over is...

Now what?
 
Well, this at least answers some questions. Judge is still rotten, but it makes it a little understandable.

She should have told the judge her circumstances but my guess is it's pride and honor that she didn't. I don't understand why others who know her/in her life were not helping her out more, like the person she supposedly lives with. I guess maybe they can only do so much otherwise I feel they're to blame a bit as well.
 
Well, this at least answers some questions. Judge is still rotten, but it makes it a little understandable.

She should have told the judge her circumstances but my guess is it's pride and honor that she didn't. I don't understand why others who know her/in her life were not helping her out more, like the person she supposedly lives with. I guess maybe they can only do so much otherwise I feel they're to blame a bit as well.

Or you know, the fact that she is a kid?
 
Or you know, the fact that she is a kid?
Considering the parents were not with her or, I am assuming, her guardians then yes the judge should have figured something is up. This is a mess but there seems to be small gaps here and there.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top Bottom