Q: Would the custodial parent or non-custodial parent of a juvenile would be responsible for paying fines for probation?
Our child committed a possession of controlled substance; a marijuana vape on school campus and was arrested in the state of Mississippi. He was fined $250 to pay for drug screening and the custodial parent is stating that I'm responsible as well for the fine. This happened while in the custodial parent's care in MS; I'm the non-custodial parent who lives in Tennessee. He is 14 years old and fined by the Juvenile Justice Center, Hernando, M.S. 38632
A: You don’t say which court found him guilty or give his age. If he was found guilty in Municipal, Justice, County, or Circuit, that tells me that he is not a juvenile. The Court will look to your son to pay the fine, not either of the parents, custodial or not. He committed the crime, so he pays the fine. If the custodial parent chooses to pay the fine for him, that’s really on that parent. He/she can go into Chancery and ask the Chancellor to order you to reimburse the custodial parent, but I would say the chances are slim. If he is at an age that he can get a job, the best course is to make him get a job and pay the fine. If there are no consequences, what lesson has he learned?
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