ironmichael: Teenagers have always experimented with underage drinking. In some cases the parents are definitely to blame. But how can you single out the parents and not address some of the other sources?

Judge Jeremiah: In answer to your question, the Family Court is limited in its jurisdiction. You are right. The person who runs the package store, who makes the fake ID, who sells to minors, should be held accountable, but unfortunately, they do not fall under our jurisdiction.

cc: Does the Rhode Island Judiciary have any plans to institute a proactive education plan as it relates to the existing laws violating said laws and the penalties, for both children and parents.

Judge Jeremiah: What we hope to do in the Family Court is to establish a specialized court calendar to handle teenage drinking. This calendar will not only educate the child as to the impact of drinking, but will bring about meetings with a professional to increase the ability of the parent(s) to communicate with the child and understand the problems that child experiences as she/he matures.

Concerned Parent: What can parents do - really do - to help kids?

Judge Jeremiah: Concerned Parent: Parents can just show a lot of love and affection and build up a close relationship with their child. When was the last time you had dinner as a family? When was the last time your child was complimented for doing a good job? when was the last time you said, "I love you" to your child? or were you so busy with your own life that this goes neglected.

Donna: Do you have any suggestions for us citizens for what to do about a parent who knows their child is drinking (and drinking to become inebriated) and does absolutely nothing about it and continues to allow their child access to the automobile thereby putting other people at risk?

Judge Jeremiah: Donna: I would assume that a child under these circumstances is a neglected child under the law. I would suggest that you contact DCYF to report this.

BarringtonResident: Could a the teenager that was before you reasonably question your impartiality given your comments from the bench concerning Barrington parents and children? (Especially given that the use of alcohol has not been established and will undoubtedly be a central issue in the case)

Judge Jeremiah: I don't think you understand me. My whole objective as a judge is to make a child successful in life. I do not enjoy locking any child up at the training school. All I want to do is see these children from Barrington who have all the potential in the world succeed. With that, I'm sure I can be impartial.

dan: My question has to do with college students and drinking. It used to be you were somewhat protected and supported, if you will, on college campuses. Today, at URI, for instance, the university has pushed the kids “down the line” – now the Narragansett police harass them, house to house, pushing them out of the houses and into their cars. Where do they go? Providence – to the clubs – then they drive home after even a few drinks. Hopefully without killing someone or themselves. These policies are NOT saving our children – what do you think we can do – now – today – when we don’t have the luxury of time of changing mindsets – which is a long term goal?????

Judge Jeremiah: It is unfortuante the court does not have jurisdicition over the age of eighteen. The answer to this question is with the family. Meaning, if you have a good relationship with your child and can discuss alcohol related issues, the child may act in an appropriate manner as he/she grows up.

Ali: Would raising the driving age to 18 help with this problem??

Judge Jeremiah: No

Sandy: Your honor, as a resident of Barrington and a parent of 4 teens, I am somewhat surprised at your public portrayal of the residents of this town. Everyone I know are just hard-working good people. It is expected that uneducated, ignorant people would make a generalization such as this, but quite shocking that someone such as yourself would do so. My question to you is, how do you think this epidemic of underage drinking and mis-guided parental attitudes will be helped by making this a Barrington problem? Do you think quite possibly that you could use your position a bit more constructively to combat this problem?

Judge Jeremiah: It's obvious the recent article in the Projo that your did not read the second page. What I said was that it is a problem throughout the state and it effects only a small amount of parents in barrington. Read the paper again.

bookworm: Judge, do you have any remedies available to you in juvenile law where you can punish parents when they are clearly part of the problem?

Judge Jeremiah: bookworm: The parent may be charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor. I don't know why the various police departments do not bring this charge more often.

Andrea (Panciera, projo.com editor): Judge Jeremiah just referred to a Journal report on his remarks during a hearing stemming from the recent death of a Barrington teen in an accident linked to alcohol. You may read the full story here.
It also includes a transcript of the judge's remarks that day, which you may go to directly here.

Jim: Has the teen drinking problem become worse over the years, or are kids pretty much taking the same risks now as they did when you first joined the bench? And do you feel it's a bigger problem in Barrington than elsewhere in the state?

Judge Jeremiah: Jim: I think the problem is the same, except police departments are more diligent. I don't think the problem is any greater in Barrington than anywhere else. The police department in Barrington is very diligent.

NancyD: So, what else can be done to hold adults responsible for underage drinking?

Judge Jeremiah: This is a good question, that I find very difficult to answer. For adults who do not take on the responsibility for raising a family are very hard to work with. Other than charging the parents with neglect or contributing to the delinquency of a minor, there is not much that can be done.

Eileen: Can you (family court) develop family programs that encompass both the child (offender) and the parents to raise awareness

Judge Jeremiah: Yes. We have already developed several program for this purpose. We have a specialized juvenile drug court where youngsters with drug/ alchol problems are referred for intense supervision and testing. The recidivism rate for this court is under 3%. We have a specialized program for children who have alcohol problems called YDD (youthful drunk driving) where children have a fifteen hour education course which includes spending 4 to 5 hours on a Saturday night at the emeregency room at RI Hospital to see what happens to victims of alcohol related accidents. There is another program where children are taken to the ACI and addressed by a former CEO who is incarcerated for driving under the influence death resulting. We have other programs that are too lengthy to describe. Please see the family Court's website.

Debbie: Judge: In all due respect, your answer about showing love and affection, etc, is a good one but it does not address what parents who are doing all of these things should be doing differently to help prevent their kids from abusing alcohol. A lot of kids who get into this type of trouble are from very good strong family units.

Judge Jeremiah: Debbie: You are right, I always say that you can be the best parent in the world, but have the worst child or the worst parent in the world but have the best child. I think the answer the question is that the values that we have now in society when we question the amount of salary of a teacher who is very important in the life of a child but will pay someone $5 million dollars who has a batting average of .230.

4Browns: Has it been determined where these kids are getting the alcohol from? It seems to me that the justice system need to hit the suppliers hard. We are the smallest state in the counrty, and we should have the toughest laws in the land. Others would see that our programs work and follow us.

Judge Jeremiah: 4Browns: In many cases, the alcohol is coming from the home or from liqour dealers who are more concerned with making a dollar than checking ID's.

bookworm: judge: any chance you could set up a moderated town meeting with you, the Governor, the State Police Commander, the House speaker, and the head of the Police Chief's Association?

Judge Jeremiah: bookworm: I have talked to several of my judges and it has been suggested that this is a good idea. It may happen in the future.

Norma: How can the schools help more? I taught high school for 30 years and have lost many promising young people to addiction. We offer programs and give advice, we talk to parents, on and on. What else is there? Is opening "drop-in centers"
an option - like the centers from the 70's? Are there grants available to begin programs to help with getting the message to students and parents?

Judge Jeremiah: Norma: I have great respect for teachers. They do a wonderful job of educating children. I don't know what else I could do. We have tried opening drop-in centers, but the children do not come because it is too childish for them.

Andrea: We've been talking just about alcohol abuse today. Judge, are you also routinely seeing other kinds of substance abuse? IF so, what kind? And is drinking the the most common substance being abused by teens?

Judge Jeremiah: Andrea: In my many yearts on the bench, I have had many wonderful children appear before me. Everyone of them has stated that they could get drugs and alcohol in the school they were in. I think smoking pot is just as prominent as drinking alcohol.

cc: How much of this problem of fatalites relate not only to drinking but risk taking reckless driving and,speeding on our roadways.

Judge Jeremiah: cc: They are all interelated. A person who has had a few drinks usually has a feeling of power and therefore will drink faster and more recklessly.

mjendza: What happens to the other kids in the car such as last week when the fatality occured. The other kids were just as responsible as far as drinking, purchasing and the decision to drive.

Judge Jeremiah: mjendza: Several years ago, I heard a case where a child was killed sitting in the rear seat of a jeep, where all the passengers and the driver had consumed a large amount of alcohol. I said to the father of the deceased child, "it is quite possible that had your child not been under the influence, it is possible that your child would not have been a passenger."

However, the authorities only looked to the driver and are not concerned with the other passengers.

bc: Judge Jeremiah, my son is the oddball out at URI because he DOESN'T drink! This is in the dorm rooms! He has to leave the room.....the room that we are paying for! They are drinking and doing drugs and he is there to become a teacher....he wants to learn they drink all night long!!!!!!!!!! He can't even study in his room! They are all underage.
My son finally said NO BOOZE NO DRUGS when I'm in the room.

Judge Jeremiah: bc: You should be very proud of your son. I am sure he will be very successful. I think this behavior by the other students should not be tolerated and should be made public. Maybe a call to Ed Fitzpatrick at the Journal, a reporter who is very concerned with this problem, would bring this problem to the attention it should.

Peter: What do you think about calls to lower the drinking age to 18?

Judge Jeremiah: Peter: I think they should raise the drinking age to forty.

Hope: I'm sorry Judge by why is my question not being answered? WHY ARE THE PARENTS NOT BEING HELD RESPONSIBE. Your arrest as theyshould be the liqour store owners but not the parents.

Judge Jeremiah: Hope: The parents can be held responsible, but it is up to law enforcement to charge them.

NancyD: Will communities have the option to send youth to your new teenage drinking court or handle it themselves at their respective juvenile hearing boards?

Judge Jeremiah: They will have the option. The only problem I have, althought the hearing borads do an excellent job, they do not report alcohol related arrests of juveniles to anyone. A youngster can be arrested in Newport, and again in Westerly, and Westerly would be unaware of the prior charge. We hope to correct this in the next legislative session.