Should parents pay for children's crimes?

A scam alert that may arrive in the mail. You need to be aware of the danger.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – If a child commits a crime like vandalism or destruction of property, should the parents have to pay?

Representative Dane Eagle says, "Yes." His bill passed its third committee Monday and would put parents on the hook if their children can't pay a victim back for a crime.

Recommended Videos



He said a victim's situation is made even worse when they aren't properly compensated.

"The fairness question should be 'should the victim be held responsible?' If we're not holding the parents responsible, then we're holding the victim responsible," Eagle said. "You look at it in a comparison in that point, then I think we should go with the parents. A judge could say 'OK, we understand your final situation, you may not be able to pay, let's inflict some community service.'"

The proposal has passed the House in the past but hasn't had much Senate support until this year. Â