Parks are made for children to play in. Β That’s why they’re there, with play-sets and slides and monkey bars and see-saws and stuff. Β But sending your kid to play in the park… well, apparently that is a crime. Β At least in South Carolina.
A mom in north Augusta actually went to jail this month because she let her child play by herself at a park near her job. Β While mom was working, she gave the 9-year-old a cell phone, just in case there was trouble, and let her play with the other kids until it was time to go home. Β After three days of it, someone got the police involved. Β Mom was charged with unlawful conduct towards a child, and the girl was put in county care.
South Carolina does have laws about child supervision, but doesn’t mention a specific age. Β Again, the girl was 9 years old. Β Which makes it a little different than other cases, like the one in Arizona a couple of months ago, where a mom left her 2-year-old to play by herself. Β She’s just a toddler, and couldn’t even get out of a swing set seat.
But back in South Carolina, we have a working mom with no other care options, and a kid who seemed to be able to take care of herself. Β Contrarily, a lot of people think she was crazy for leaving the kid alone. Β
So our Man on the Edge, Robert Wilder, hit the streets to see if you think mom deserved to be arrested…
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