Julie Giles: Georgia Mother Arrested, Jailed Over Son’s Unexcused Absences From School

A Georgia mother was arrested, placed in handcuffs, and booked into jail over her sons”unexcused absences from school, and the school superintendent is standing behind her arrest warrant, the Free Thought Project is reporting.

Julie Giles of Screven County, Georgia (about 200 miles southeast of Atlanta), posted on Facebook last week that she received an ominous note from her school regarding her son’s unexcused absences from school.

“Sam has had 6 more unexcused absences (an absence without a doctor’s note) than the county allows per year this year. I received a certified letter Saturday about this issue and Keith[my husband] contacted the [Board of Education] on my behalf yesterday while I worked subbing. I have been notified that a warrant for my arrest will most likely be issued. My family’s doctor has written a character reference for me, and I have the support of many [Board of Education] employees, but at the moment it still appears I will be arrested. If the Sheriff and the Attendance Officer moves forward I will be given the opportunity to turn myself in. I spoke to a county employee yesterday that says arrest IS likely.”

Giles explained that her sons are often sick, but she can’t afford to pay the copay at her doctor’s office every time one of them is sick, nor will she take them to school where they can infect other kids.

That decision, according to WTOC (Savannah), would wind up getting the Georgia mother arrested. On Thursday evening, she turned herself in.

“I am home. I was actually placed in ankle shackles!! I was told that doing so is procedure. I was respectful and followed directions. Sheriff Mike Kile allowed me to leave after being booked and photographed without having to call a bondsman. I will call tomorrow to get my court date.”

If you think having a mother arrested over her child missing too much school is ridiculous, Screven County Schools superintendent William Bland would disagree with you; he confirmed to WTOC that “several” other parents have been arrested for their kids’ unexcused absences at Screven County Schools this year alone.

“It’s important for these children to be in school and I think the courts recognize that.”

In fact, courts outside of Screven County have jailed parents for their children’s truancy, and in at least one case, the results were disastrous. Pennsylvania mother Eileen Dinino, unable to pay the fines for her kids’ truancy, instead went to jail, where she later died, according to this Inquisitr report.

As for Julie Giles, though she’s been released from jail without bond, she still faces jail time. The Georgia mother posted today that she still faces fines and possible “jail days” for her son’s unexcused absences; her next court date will be July 14.

[Images courtesy of: Shutterstock/Odua Images, ]