Reporting your adult child

[Anonymous]

Inspired by a conversation with a friend.

Would you report your child to the authorities if they commit a crime against you or others?

This is not a specific case, but a hypothetical one, but it got me thinking about unconditional love vs. duty to society.

[Anonymous]

Depends on the crime.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Depends on the crime.

If they were a threat to children, for example, I absolutely would.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends on the crime.

If they were a threat to children, for example, I absolutely would.

That’s true. I was thinking more of petty theft, cheating, doing drugs, getting into fights, hitting parents, stealing from parents, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends on the crime.

If they were a threat to children, for example, I absolutely would.

That’s true. I was thinking more of petty theft, cheating, doing drugs, getting into fights, hitting parents, stealing from parents, etc.

Cheating? That's not really a crime.

[Anonymous]

this is too fact dependent to be an ask-the-audience type hypothetical.

[Anonymous]

OP, interesting question. I think about this regarding SBF and FTX. His parents basically saying his legal fees will wipe them out. Would I do the same if culpability was fairly established?

[Anonymous]

I haven’t been in the situation, but if I had to guess: yes, would report if I thought kid was a danger to others, would not report drugs or petty theft. Unsure about what I would do with kid hit an adult family member ( but no injury) in anger. That’s a tough call.

[Anonymous]

If your kid is a danger to themselves or others, you absolutely report.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends on the crime.

If they were a threat to children, for example, I absolutely would.

That’s true. I was thinking more of petty theft, cheating, doing drugs, getting into fights, hitting parents, stealing from parents, etc.

Well, any child who hits me would be promptly kicked out of my house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, interesting question. I think about this regarding SBF and FTX. His parents basically saying his legal fees will wipe them out. Would I do the same if culpability was fairly established?

Who?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, interesting question. I think about this regarding SBF and FTX. His parents basically saying his legal fees will wipe them out. Would I do the same if culpability was fairly established?

Who?

Single black females and first time x-box users, obviously. Duh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I haven’t been in the situation, but if I had to guess: yes, would report if I thought kid was a danger to others, would not report drugs or petty theft. Unsure about what I would do with kid hit an adult family member ( but no injury) in anger. That’s a tough call.

+1 I feel like this is my general feeling on reporting crime. I'd be pretty unlikely to report a stranger for drugs or petty theft either, but I would be extremely upset and try to figure out what was going on if it was my kid (whereas I would just move on and maybe feel bad for a total stranger).

[Anonymous]

Yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I haven’t been in the situation, but if I had to guess: yes, would report if I thought kid was a danger to others, would not report drugs or petty theft. Unsure about what I would do with kid hit an adult family member ( but no injury) in anger. That’s a tough call.

+1 I feel like this is my general feeling on reporting crime. I'd be pretty unlikely to report a stranger for drugs or petty theft either, but I would be extremely upset and try to figure out what was going on if it was my kid (whereas I would just move on and maybe feel bad for a total stranger).

+2. I honestly don't think that law enforcement and the legal system is the best approach for managing things like addiction so I wouldn't report anyone for this if it was a personal issue. Petty theft I'd probably just move on from for a stranger, stealing a bar of soap is sort of a victimless crime in terms of actual people. Anything that put others in danger (think, child porn) I would report for anyone.