The first day of spring has come and gone which means mothers are spending endless hours shopping for “the right” dress and fathers are finding their wallets empty when they try to pay for lunch. This can only mean one thing – prom season is here!
“Proms are such an exciting event for young people,” said Hamilton County Juvenile Court Judge Suzanne Bailey. “For some it is there first and others their last because they will be graduating. It is meant to be an enjoyable time where lasting memories are made. Unfortunately, the memories that some of these teens plan to carry with them into adulthood will never happen due to unintended circumstances. With the excitement of the evening comes the failure of many young people to stop and consider the consequences of their actions.”
While discussing prom plans with her mother, Kathy* became upset when her mother told her she needed to be in by midnight.
“Nobody comes in by midnight,” said Kathy. “Most of my friends will stay out all night with the permission of their parents or they will party at a friend’s house all night.”
Although Kathy’s mother was unrelenting, many parents deem prom night as a “rite of passage” for their teen allowing them to bend the rules just for that night. In an effort to discourage drinking and driving, some parents even throw “after prom parties” in their home providing food and alcohol and requiring a commitment from the teens that they will turn over their keys.
“We want teens to have a good time as they celebrate, but parents must help them keep their heads together and make good choices,” said Judge Bailey.
“In spite of their good intentions, parents need to think twice about the prom parties they throw for their teens,” said District Attorney Bill Cox. “A midnight breakfast is a great idea, but a parent who chooses to have a party at their house where minors are drinking alcohol needs to also consider the consequences. If law enforcement shows up at that party, teens can be charged with drinking under age and could face a sentence of up to 11 months and 29 days on probation and the loss of their license for a year. Parents can be charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor and could face a sentence of up to 11 months and 29 days in the Hamilton County workhouse or probation for that amount of time. These consequences would be minor compared to having to live with the loss of a life due to teenage drinking. We take the safety of our young people very seriously. Parents have been charged with this offense in the past.”
“I encourage parents to consider the pressure their teens are facing and talk with them before prom night about expectations for the evening,” said Judge Bailey.
Know the friends that your teen will be around at and after the prom.
If they are going to a friend’s house after the prom, make sure you know the parents and whether they share your values.
Talk about how hard it can be to make a good decision when you are in a crowd.
Give them a way out. Encourage them to call you if they find themselves in a compromising situation.
Let your teen know that you trust them and make sure they understand the expectations that you have for them for prom night.
Most importantly, parents need to make sure their teens know that they love them. One of the best ways to show this is to set limits and help them understand that the limits are intended to make sure that the best laid plans for a good time on prom night are played out to the fullest in a safe environment.
