Legal Question in Sexual Harassment in Missouri

Sexual Harassment in Junior High

My child was taken to juvenille center from school on the charges of sexual misconduct. The school did not call us to inform us what was going on. We didn't find out until I came home from work. To find that my child was not home. I immediately went to the school to find him. That is when I was told that he was taken to the juvenille center. They said that they took him there because a child in his class tokd them that he touch her on her chest. My son said that he did accidentally did touch her. But he was trying to ask her a question and she turn around at the same time he was tapping her on the shoulder. He then told her he was sorry. The teacher then wrote a report base on what the girl said. She nor the Vice Principal never ask my son what happen. They call the officer and then he was charge with sexual misconduct and taken to the Juvenille Center. I wanted to know can the school take a child to jail without letting the parent at least know what is going on. Is this consider sexual harassment. My child is in the six grade.


Asked on 2/18/98, 11:59 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Barbara C. Johnson Law Office of Barbara C. Johnson

Sounds like false imprisonment

Your child's case sounds even worse than some of the recentnationally publicized school-child-kissing cases. Your child wasbrought to a detention center. Outrageous. I agreewith you. The school obviously had a policyin place so it could avoid suit by any youngsterwho claimed to be a victim. Consult a local civil rights attorneyimmediately to get your questions answered. Don't let them fester. But do consider, yur own child may suffer lessin the long run if yu make less of it. You might want tospeak to a psychologist in order to share ideas about the bestway to discuss what happened with your child. Discussing with a sixth-grader how crazy society has become is an awesome task. I do not envy you. Just consider that sometimesless is more. YOU yourself -- NOT your child -- should discuss the event with a few different types ofprofessionals and try to figure out which of them makes more sense.Why don't you contact a few of the parents around the country whose children were suspendedfrom their schools under similar circumstances.Maybe they could advise you from their personal experiences.In the meantime, consult a local civil rights attorney about loss of liberty, etc.Good luck.

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Answered on 2/20/98, 4:03 am


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