A 55-year-old mother of severn children, Eileen Dinino, died while serving a 2-day sentence after her children had been found to have multiple truancy violations.
Tell Pennsylvania to change its harsh truancy violation laws. While no foul play is suspected, toxicology reports aren't yet complete. The fact remains that Dinino may not have died if she hadn't been incarcerated.
“I cannot understand how someone ends up going to jail,” said state Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks County). “They did not murder someone, they did not steal, they did not commit a felony. How does jail time equate to resolving this particular problem?”
While Dinino had 55 violations against her for her children's truancy problems, the fact that the violations carry up to a 5-day jail sentence in Pennsylvania is uncommon.
“That unfortunately is part of the law in Pennsylvania, and I think it is insanity,” said Christian Leinbach, a Republican Berks County commissioner. “There has got to be a better way to deal with truancy than putting somebody in prison.”
Tell Pennsylvania legislators that fine payment plans or community service are more apt punishment for truancy violations.
Dear Sirs,
We the undersigned ask that Pennsylvania consider changing its harsh truancy violation punishments.
A 55-year-old mother of severn children, Eileen Dinino, died while serving a 2-day sentence after her children had been found to have multiple truancy violations.
Tell Pennsylvania to change its harsh truancy violation laws. While no foul play is suspected, toxicology reports aren't yet complete. The fact remains that Dinino may not have died if she hadn't been incarcerated.
“I cannot understand how someone ends up going to jail,” said state Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks County). “They did not murder someone, they did not steal, they did not commit a felony. How does jail time equate to resolving this particular problem?”
While Dinino had 55 violations against her for her children's truancy problems, the fact that the violations carry up to a 5-day jail sentence in Pennsylvania is uncommon.
“That unfortunately is part of the law in Pennsylvania, and I think it is insanity,” said Christian Leinbach, a Republican Berks County commissioner. “There has got to be a better way to deal with truancy than putting somebody in prison.”
Tell Pennsylvania legislators that fine payment plans or community service are more apt punishment for truancy violations.
