Michigan judge who is under fire for sending black girl, 15, to juvenile detention after she failed to do her schoolwork refuses to let her out early, saying teen is a threat to her mother
A Michigan judge who has come under scrutiny and sparked protests after detaining a 15-year-old black girl for failing to do her schoolwork today denied the teenager early release from juvenile detention, saying she is a threat to her mother.
Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Mary Ellen Brennan said during a hearing in Pontiac that her 'role is to make decisions that are in' the teen's best interest.
She noted that police had been called out three times for confrontations between the teen, known only as Grace, and her mother, who goes by the moniker Charisse.
One incident allegedly involved the teen biting her mother's hand and pulling her hair.
ProPublica first reported last week that Grace has been in Oakland County's Children's Village since mid-May for violating probation in a case involving allegations of assault and theft.
Brennan cited a 'failure to submit to any schoolwork and getting up for school,' reported The Detroit News.
Brennan had said the girl was a threat to the community based on the assault allegation involving her mother in November, according to court documents. Grace also allegedly stole a cellphone from a fellow student at Birmingham Groves High School in Beverly Hills, northwest of Detroit.
The girl known as Grace is currently at the Children's Village detention center after she failed to complete her homework and violated the terms of her parole
Grace was placed on probation in April and, among other requirements, was to complete her schoolwork. The girl, who has ADHD and receives special education services, struggled with the transition to online learning and fell behind.
When Brennan sentenced the girl to detention on May 14, she told her that she was sending her to Childre's Village to get treatment and services.
'She was not detained because she didn't turn her homework in,' Brennan said Monday. 'She was detained because she was a threat to her mother.'
Before ruling on Grace's fate in May, Brennan offered her a chance to speak in her own defense.
'I miss my mom,' Grace said at the time. 'I can control myself. I can be obedient.'
On Monday, Brennan said from the bench: 'My role is to make decisions that are in this young lady's best interest, period,' Brennan said. 'I took an oath that I would not be swayed by public clamor or fear of criticism.'
Birmingham Public Schools said last week that it had no role in the case, but that no student should be punished for missed online work during the coronavirus pandemic.
Grace's mother, known as Charisse, shared this heartbreaking letter penned by Grace with ProPublica
The district switched to virtual instruction following a state-mandated shutdown of schools in March.
The ProPublica story was also published by the Detroit Free Press and Bridge, another news organization.
News of Grace's case prompted protests over how Black children are treated in the criminal justice system.
'People need to learn how to work with our kids," said Monique Campbell, who is African American and participated in a protest Monday outside the court building. 'There needs to be equitable treatment of all kids, and we need to realize there isn't.'
Vivian Anderson, founder of EveryBlackGirl Inc., also attended the protest and said Black children are being criminalized for 'behavior that's accepted in other communities as a way of life - this is their aging process'.
Last Thursday, hundreds of protesters assembled at Groves High School before they drove to the Oakland County's Circuit Court and prosecutor's office holding up signs with calls to 'Free Grace.'
Hundreds of people gathered on July 16 in front of the Oakland County Circuit Court and Prosecutors Office in the Detroit suburb of Pontiac to protest Grace's detention
Groves High School junior Olivia Alford, her father Ed Alford, mother Robin Alford, and brother Bryce Alford stand together in prayer during a protest in support of their schoolmate Grace
Judge Brennan cited a 'failure to submit to any schoolwork and getting up for school' in her decision to detain Grace, but on Monday she said the teen was a threat to her mother
A protester sits on top of a car after a caravan protest in support of Grace on July 16
Grace's classmates who attended the rally told Reuters that her academic performance was not unique as the country grapples with the coronavirus pandemic.
'A lot of people were behind on their work this semester, no one had motivation to do anything because the teachers were't teaching and we were all online. I know so many people that didn't do their homework,' said Prudence Canter, 18, a graduating senior at the school.
'It didn't seem like the judge or the caseworker knew how grades and due dates and things were structured during the pandemic shutdown in the spring,' Geoff Wickersham, a social studies teacher at Grove, told Reuters at the protest. 'I think this is a huge injustice.'
Speakers asked protesters to raise their hands if they had ever failed to turn in an assignment at some point and every person raised their hands.
The Michigan Supreme Court said on Thursday it is reviewing the circumstances of the case.
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