My Niece was 14 years old

[IdaBriggs]

61. Because putting a 15 year old in jail is a good idea?

Especially when they are now going to be raising a child together?

Sometimes there is "the law" and then there is "how do we all get along?"

If MichelleB's daughter has the child, in three years he can sue for custody (as an 18 year old), and then good luck *ever* seeing a grandchild again if you had daddy put in jail (assuming nothing happens to her daughter during childbirth, at which point he gets custody and you *never* see the grandchild).

Oh, and that is assuming he doesn't "demand" full legal custody/go after the girl's family for child support, which frankly, as the parents of the boy I would be pushing for (if the pregnancy is carried to term) - welcome to equality! - sigh.

This is a difficult and complicated situation, and this boy-man-child is now going to be a part of every. single. major. life. event. for the next EIGHTEEN years (if she has the child/it isn't surrendered for adoption).

This is a mess; while jail might sound good, *someone* has to be looking out for the long term. MichelleB is going to have no say over pretty much anything while being responsible for a troubled teenager/possible baby, but she will be a) paying the bills, and b) dealing with the emotional repercussions of a teenage pregnancy/motherhood. Despite her understandable fury, she needs to start figuring out how to get along before she ends up shut out - she's powerless, and needs to figure out what *her* boundaries are.

This is a sad situation.