15-Year-Old Girl Incarcerated For Not Doing Homework

OAKLAND COUNTY, MI — A 15-year-old girl was incarcerated for not doing her homework, which a judge ruled violated her parole. On Tuesday, Oakland County Executive David Coulter said he wanted the court to review the case.

Coulter said the girl, who was placed by Oakland County Circuit Court at Children’s Village for a probation violation of not completing online schoolwork, among other reasons, deserved a review.

“I believe a review of this case within her court or during an appellate process is required," Coulter said in a statement. "It has been a top priority of my administration to keep the young people and employees safe at Children’s Village during the pandemic and that includes limiting residency to immediate safety risks.”

The girl was the subject of an article published jointly by ProPublica.org, The Detroit Free Press and Bridge Magazine. According to the article, the girl was placed in the juvenile facility in May after failing to complete class assignments from Groves High School in Beverly Hills after the school switched to online learning due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Oakland County Family Court Judge Mary Ellen Brennan ruled the girl, who was not identified in the article, failed to submit schoolwork, as well as getting up for school, according to the article.

The girl was charged with assault in 2019 after she bit her mother and pulled her hair, according to the article. Weeks later, she was charged with larceny for stealing another student's cell phone, according to the article.