Girl who allegedly killed officer: One bad choice or something preventable?
One of our moms suggested that we discuss what’s happening to the 22-year old Stone Mountain woman who has been accused of driving drunk and killing a police officer with her vehicle.
In case you haven’t seen the story here is the basic gist from the AJC (click for full story and more coverage):
“The Stone Mountain woman accused of being drunk when her car slammed into and killed an Atlanta police officer has been cited six times for traffic violations in five years, the Fulton County District Attorney’s office said Thursday.
“Chasity Nicole Jones, 22, will remain in the Fulton County jail for at least the next two weeks after a Fulton County magistrate judge refused to grant bond at a court appearance Thursday morning. Jones was charged with felony first-degree vehicular homicide as well as two misdemeanors, driving under the influence and failure to yield to person authorized to direct traffic following the death of Senior Officer Gail Thomas.”
“Jones was in a jail courtroom Thursday, where Fulton Magistrate Judge Jessy Lall set bond at $15,000 on the two misdemeanors, but refused to allow bond on the vehicular homicide charge.”
“Jones said nothing during the hearing, but repeatedly turned her head to look at her mother, who sat in the back of the small courtroom. A cousin of the Atlanta police officer killed in Tuesday night’s crash was also in the courtroom.”
“Lall scheduled a preliminary hearing for Jones for Feb. 9 in Fulton Superior Court, at which time her lawyers can ask a Superior Court judge to set bond.”
“This was the first arrest for Jones, but she has been six times for traffic offenses, including four times for speeding, a member of the DA’s office told the judge Thursday. Jones has also been cited twice for making erratic lane changes and twice didn’t show up for court appearances, according to the DA’s office.”
“In Nov. 2008, Jones was cited in Gwinnett County for causing a one-vehicle wreck on Five Forks Trickum Road, Cpl. Jake Smith with Gwinnett police told the AJC….”
To me the story is heartbreaking not only for the officer and her family but for the young woman. I always want to give people the benefit of the doubt and I am wondering if this was one alleged bad decision or the culmination of multiple bad things happening in this young woman’s life?
That does seem to be a large number of traffic violations in a short number of years, and I wonder if there was a way for her parents or the police to intervene before the driving allegedly became worse? I wonder if the driving issues are reflective of other issues/problems as well?
What are you thoughts on the story? Do you have any sympathy for the 22-year-old young woman and her family? Was there any way for this to be prevented?
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163 comments Add your comment
LS
January 27th, 2012
1:29 pm
As I read ppl’s comments everywhere about this sad tragey stating their anger, sarcasim and judgement, I thought I shud say this, first of all my sympathy and condolonces to the great Police Officer family. Second of all, 22year old Chasity that most of u think is a party animal who’s finally in a cage and desreves to remain in there is my friend. Yes she is a party animal and she made the worst desicion of her life that night by driving drunk and as a result she took another person’s life. I believe if there is no punishment there will be no awareness BUT how old is she again? I am 28 and every and each one of u including me AT LEAST drove drunk once in thier lives. And at the age of 22? C’mon for godsake its the age that we all done the craziest things that we wud never do again. How many times did u get distracted by a text msg or sth u saw on the road while driving or u dropped ur phone under ur seat and tried to reach down to it? Not saying that its the same nor trying to underestimate driving drunk but taking a life in result of any kind of distratction while driving is. She’s a young girl with lack of guidance and luck. Not trying to make Chasity my friend the victim here, not at all, she messed up like every human being does but she dint get away with it this time.
Soccer MILF
January 27th, 2012
1:42 pm
Its okay to drive intoxicated as long as its doctor prescribed.
Richard
January 27th, 2012
1:44 pm
I think people are fighting with their sympathy because the girl is YOUNG and was doing what many other people were doing at her age: drinking and partying and sometimes driving. It’s certainly illegal and irresponsible: but in her case her recklessness killed someone. That’s all there is to it. Life has consequences and this girl will have to face the loss of freedom and and will have to suffer the knowledge that she killed a human being and destroyed a family. The only good that can come of it is that she serves as an example to other people and hopefully it will prevent other needless tragedies.
That being said – I know that the 75S – 85N ramp is a death trap. There are skid marks and gouges in the concrete and speed bumps and reflectors and car parts from previous wrecks all over the place. Nobody in their right mind would get out of their car there and I get nervous anytime I go through the place just waiting for some idiot to rear-end me or something. I want to know why the unfortunate police officer in this case didn’t have better protection. Didn’t anyone think about stopping traffic? I mean – I am trying to picture the scene and I just can’t envision a safe way this could have happened in broad daylight with sober drivers.
motherjanegoose
January 27th, 2012
2:02 pm
@ LS…I have done many stupid things in my life but I have never driven drunk. I am 52.
Some of us have made it through our lives without being party animals.
noone really knows
January 27th, 2012
2:13 pm
Sometime we are so self righteous…we tend to forget that we are humans and even though we might not be caught breaking the law we all do it. I know Chasity personally and I can asure you that she is the sweetest and most loving person you’ll ever meet. I am filled with sympathy for the officer and her family but I am also filled with sympathy for Chasity. She made a horrible mistake and she is going to pay dearly for the mistakes she made. Just because I am filled with sympathy does not mean that I do not think that she deserves to be punished for her mistake. You guys are all on here saying the most horrible things about a girl you do not know and if life has not taught me anything it is that at the same time you point a finger and judge someone else about what they did thinking that your better than that person that something horrible always happens to you. I am sure you have family members and children and just remember that you can not control what your child does once he/she moves out and your child might one day make a stupid mistake that might cost you and your family dearly! As a 22 year old I know better than to sit and talk smack and judge other people because I make mistakes and I am not better than anyone else. It seems all of you have forgotten that!! I have always said that age is nothing but a number and honestly I find that with you some of you guys your age has brought you nothing but stupidity!
JOD
January 27th, 2012
2:18 pm
@Richard – I believe that’s what Ofc. Thomas was trying to do.
I guess everyone is going to defend this young lady, but I’m going to argue that this was blatantly wrong. It is not equivalent to driving 36 mph in a 35 mph zone. It IS equivalent to passing a stopped school bus with the lights on. Everyone makes mistakes and accidents happen, but that’s not what this is. She made a choice and will live with the consequences.
Richard
January 27th, 2012
2:21 pm
@noone really knows
When you get caught breaking the law, you will face consequences whether you are a hypocrite or not.
Richard
January 27th, 2012
2:26 pm
@JOD
I certainly agree – The decision to drink is made when you are sober.
JOD
January 27th, 2012
2:26 pm
@noone – I don’t think anyone is talking ’smack’ about her. Maybe I missed it, but I haven’t seen any personal attacks; the discussion has actually been pretty focused on the behavior and not the person.
noone really knows
January 27th, 2012
2:27 pm
@ Richard if you actually read by comment you would have realized that I never once said that she does not deserve to be punished for her actions…I said quite the opposite so next time as a word of advice please read before you talk…it will save you the time of looking like an idiot
crikey
January 27th, 2012
2:30 pm
It’s “no one” two words, NOT one word……no such word exists.
Richard
January 27th, 2012
2:31 pm
@noone really knows
My comment was more focoused on the half of your post that called everyone a hypocrite… but I realise that maybe I didn’t make that clear… so I am posting this to clarify my position. I doubt that I look much like an idiot.
motherjanegoose
January 27th, 2012
2:37 pm
“I find that with you some of you guys your age has brought you nothing but stupidity!”
REALLY? Talk to me when you are 50 years old. I am the mother of two children your age, so I do see lots of young adults in the same age bracket. Different people make different choices and thus there are different outcomes. I have met some amazing young adults. My daughter has a friend at UGA who has straight A’s and is trying to get in Vet School. This is NO small task. She has taken several of the same classes my son ( now a Pharmacy student) took and he did NOT get straight A’s. Same daughter has another friend who is heading into management at Chik Fil A. Again, I am in awe at what this girl has accomplished and pretty sure she would not be in the same position above. Not everyone is out to party their life away while they are young. Here is one thing that a stupid old woman knows: you can be very sweet and loving and even adorable but if you make a choice to drink and drive…that may overshadow everything else and change your life. Plenty of people who were called all of those words have gotten into big trouble.
Sorry but I am not impressed with your post and you may feel the same about mine. The difference is that I AM an old woman and have seen and done probably a lot more than you have, so IMHO you have limited experience in your view.
Kawla
January 27th, 2012
2:40 pm
The number of tickets that she had is a red flag for me. Usually someone with that many tickets is a habitual speeder- one only gets caught a fraction of the time one speeds. So she was in the habit of driving unsafely, would be my guess. She probably thought it wasn’t a big deal, but this last time turned into a big deal…..
I do feel sorry for her, as she did not intend to kill, but I think that the punishment is deserved – driving is a big responsibility and needs to be taken seriously.
Wayne
January 27th, 2012
2:40 pm
@L S: I like this part of your post “Not trying to make Chasity my friend the victim here, not at all, she messed up like every human being does but she dint get away with it this time.”
This time? What does that mean? Just curious.
dc
January 27th, 2012
2:44 pm
The soccer or any moms/dads out there gabbing on the cell phone and not paying attention are just as guilty as a drunk driver IMO. They know when they pick that phone up while driving, they are going to lose 40% of their concentration so why do it? People think that it won’t happen to them but it could be just as deadly as what this young lady did. My heart and prayers are with both of these families. A sad sad tragedy that has forever changed the lives of both familes. And I am not perfect. Like Jeff, I got a DUI 15 years ago and I learned from it. But that being said, I could have very well been the one who killed someone or myself. Please stop judging people so much. It could be you or a loved one in this same situation one day.
dc
January 27th, 2012
2:45 pm
OH and MJG – get off your soap box. You do realize that when you were looking in your glove box or when you were looking at your children that the mailbox or car you hit could have been a child on bike don’t you?????
mystery poster
January 27th, 2012
2:52 pm
@Wow, homeschooler. You put it very eloquently.
motherjanegoose
January 27th, 2012
3:04 pm
dc…yes you are correct that I was not paying as much attention as I should have! But to me, that is different than knowingly driving a car ON THE INTERSTATE after you had been drinking. I drive near that area all the time and it is scary IF YOU ARE SOBER. Driving near there after you have been drinking is just beyond stupid. My speed was about 20 miles per hour for the mail box and about 10 mph when I was looking in my glovebox. I think I would be on the soapbox if I were simply complaining about someone who has had an accident, which I have never had but it could happen to me tomorrow though.
LS
January 27th, 2012
3:13 pm
@Wayne
I meant we as human beings we mess up sometimes taking a wrong desicion and we get the chance to regret it later saying “Thank god I got away with it”, generally speaking not talking of drinking and driving here. Chasity messed up that night and dint get away with it meaning dint make it home safe which I believe everything happens for a reason and I again say she deserves the punishment for it.
LS
January 27th, 2012
3:17 pm
Again not trying to underestimate what she done, I’m no judge here, dont get me wrong ppl. I just had a heart for her since she’s my friend, maybe I’m mistaken, but being judged my whole life made me a non-judgemental person always looking at the other side of the story thats all.
JATL
January 27th, 2012
3:57 pm
My second post (from hours ago) is missing.
Hello
January 27th, 2012
4:01 pm
I know Chasity personally, I went to high school with her, she hooked me up with one of my exes that I dated for a while. She is the sweetest person I have ever known. She is one of those girls that is cool with everyone, she is not stuck up because her life was anything BUT privileged. If u saw the interview with her mom u would see that she was living in a trailer park. That being said, she also took a life and of course she needs to be punished for it, but I can only pray that the court doesn’t try to make an example out of her. I have sympathy for her family as well as the cops family.
All you people making snap judgements and saying she deserves to rot in a prison cell act as if u are some type of angel. Yes what she did was stupid, but dont u think she knows that? Dont u think she is going to regret this for the rest of her life? Dont u think the fact that she accidentally KILLED somebody is gonna alter her mentally and physically? She is not a cold blooded killer….
Hello
January 27th, 2012
4:05 pm
u people keep saying “SHE WAS A PARTY ANIMAL IR WAS BOUND TO HAPPEN.” thats like saying “hey I drive to work everyday, so an accident is bound to happen.”
Richard
January 27th, 2012
4:07 pm
@LS
I think we all realize all sides of the story. This story is not unique. It’s a tragedy. That is the danger of mixing alcohol with driving. Didn’t anyone tell you? Didn’t anyone tell her? I think they did. I hope you’re listening. THIS IS THE DANGER OF DRINKING AND DRIVING. This is what people mean when they say “DRINKING AND DRIVING KILLS”. It’s just a tragedy. Texting and talking on the phone HAVE AND WILL do the same thing. Looking in your glove box or changing the radio dial, also. KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE ROAD EVERY SECOND. Hopefully it will not happen to any one of us. But if you drink and drive, it could kill someone and ruin thier life and it will ruin yours too. It’s just a fact. It is a foregone conclusion.
Hello
January 27th, 2012
4:12 pm
Dont get it twisted, what she did was wrong, and the victims family deserve some type of compensation, but how does locking her up and throwing away the key benefit anyone? I say she deserves 1-3 years max…I spent one night in jail for underage drinking a while back and that was all I could handle. Trust me, she will have def. learned her lesson by then. There is no way that going to prison for a year wont change her outlook on life.
Hello
January 27th, 2012
4:13 pm
And get your facts straight people, she didnt actually hit the cop, she hit a parked car which then ran over the cop. Where was this parked car anyway? Im guessing it was probably sticking out the side of the highway. The area that this happened at is known for accidents, so there are other factors at play besides her drunkenness.
Hello2
January 27th, 2012
4:24 pm
You act like drinking and driving is the ultimate sin. Just b/c she was drunk doesn’t take away from the fact that she is a good person who doesn’t deserve to be in prison with REAL MURDERERS and convicts for 15 years, which is the max for 1st degree vehicular homicide. When she gets out, her mom will probably be dead and she probably wont be able to get a job. Thats the perfect set up for her to turn to a life of crime to survive.
JOD
January 27th, 2012
4:27 pm
@MJG – LOL. Thanks for sticking up for us ‘old ladies’.
Wayne
January 27th, 2012
4:33 pm
So that makes it different that the car run over the police officer? Not the girl’s car, but another car?
There’s been discussion – I don’t know how far along it is – centered around the charges brought against someone who gets into a car and kills someone. Is it voluntary or involuntary, is it murder, or manslaughter – I haven’t been following it that closely honestly.
The issue is that you made a decision to get into a car while under the influence. You made a decision to drink to inebriation. You got into that car, drove and, I don’t care if you hit the office directly or otherwise, killed someone. Whether she is a good person or not, is moot. She’s a 22 year old, young woman, who has a history of traffic violations, and on two occasions did not show up for court appearances.
Sorry, can’t feel sorry for her.
LS
January 27th, 2012
4:34 pm
@Richard
WOW u must be one perfect person and excellent driver! Hope u’r not one of those losers hiding behind ur computer with an ananymous ID full of hate and judgement acting like someone u’r not or maybe u wanna be!
Well one piece of advice Mr. Perfect, RELAX, none of this written and said here nor anywhere is gonna change what happened or whats gonna happen. And yes I know this is why DRINKING AND DRIVING KILLS I’m fully aware of it and dont need to defend or explain myself to no one. I wanted to share my openion since Chasity is my friend, which I did politely without attacking nor offending anyone unlike u.
@Hello
Well said, cant agree more:)
motherjanegoose
January 27th, 2012
4:42 pm
Some of you youngsters :) are nuts and I realize that you will be allowed to vote and make decisions for us old farts. It is a scary world out there. JOD are you with me?
@ Hello…um yes…the more you drive the more chance there is that you will be involved in an accident. The more times you are referred to ( correctly) as a party animal, the bigger chance you could get in some sort of trouble. Being a good person probably does not make the family of the person she killed feel any better.
Jack
January 27th, 2012
5:36 pm
“She made a mistake”…no, a mistake is when you do something accidentally. She drank beer, then got behind the wheel – not a mistake, 1st degree murder.
unzipper
January 27th, 2012
5:40 pm
I laugh when people say two lives were ruined. Only one was – the officer, who dedicated her life to serving others. Nicole dedicated her life to getting drunk, having sex, driving as fast as often as she wanted, and not listening to others tell her she might kill someone. Her life isn’t ruined, it was already a pathetic waste of potential.
The Quad Squad
January 27th, 2012
5:42 pm
F all y’all. She lived liked she wanted, had fun, and made a mistake, one mistake. Who here hasnt had a few beers and gone drivin?
JOD
January 27th, 2012
6:36 pm
@MJG – Actually I thought that exact thing today when I read about the teens who broke into CNN, then checked their FB on a computer there!
Fred
January 27th, 2012
7:03 pm
RoadRage
January 27th, 2012
12:17 pm
And Fred – you are perfect? You’ve never broken any laws? How’s that glass house working for you?
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Really? THAT is what you got out of my post? You aren’t very bright are you? Just shush now bless your heart, the big people are talking.
@homeschooler: Your post at 12:08 was dead on. You obviously have a much nicer way of expressing what I was saying lol. But yes, you can feel sympathy or empathy WITHOUT negating the need for punishment or consequences. How many people who say they are “for” the death penalty have actually watched someone die? How many could pull the trigger, flip the switch, administer the injection, or whatever? I do, I have, and I could. And I would feel sorry for the person as I was doing it. I felt bad as a soldier about killing people who were trying to kill me. Like me, they were just doing their job. Luckily I was better at it than they were. :D
Theresa@ 12:15: I think about that all the time.
Fred
January 27th, 2012
7:18 pm
@LS: I’m sure you had some very valid points, but like motherjanegoose, I’m old and trying to read that text type crap makes my brain hurt so I gave up on your post.
@mjg: I feel no pity for you lol. I’m almost as old as you are (I think) and MY daughter is only 9. I tell people often that I skipped kids and went straight to grand kids lol. I’ll be doing “teenage years” long after I’ve gotten my AARP card………
@JOD: I haven’t forgotten about the C&D. Just been to busy/lazy………
homeschooler
January 27th, 2012
7:46 pm
@Fred..yeah, I was a little surprised that someone took that from your post also. I thought you made yourself perfectly clear.
To all of you who suggest that everyone has driven after drinking at some time or another, you are wrong. I can name at least 25 people in the next 2 minutes who have NEVER and would NEVER do that. I am 40 yrs old and have experienced more than some and less than others and have been around all walks of life. There are many, many people who choose to make good decisions and are rewarded with good, stable lives. This may be boring to some of you but it is LIFE. You all need to grow up and learn from this experience. When your parents, grand parents, public service announcements etc.. say “Drinking and driving kills”, “stay in school”, “bad decisions will haunt you”. YOU NEED TO LISTEN and stop thinking you know everything. I can guarantee you when you are 30, or 40 etc.. You will realize how wrong you were. Hopefully you won’t have to learn that the way that Chasity did.
And to the person who says Chasity should serve 1-3 yrs, well that is not up to you. She took a life. Not by doing somethig kind of stupid but by making a very obvious deadly choice that she made time and time again. I tend to think that “unzipper” knows the truth and if Chasity gets out in 1-3 yrs she will be right back to her ways. AND every other stupid young person who thinks they know everything will be able to look at her as an example as to how drinking/driving and killing someone only gets you 1-3 yrs, hey, it’s worth the risk. Our court systems are way to lenient already. I’m with whoever said, “it scares me that you all will be making the laws someday”. Come on, give everyone a chance, everybody makes mistakes. A very lovely woman with a very lovely 22 yr old was struck down, literally, in the prime of her life. 1-3 years? really…
Hello
January 27th, 2012
8:11 pm
That is what’s so messed up about our legal system, good people who don’t deserve to be locked away for decades end up coming out as hardened criminals with no where to go. And the court will probably try to make an example out of her since this case is pretty high profile…which is unfortunate for her.
@janegoose My point was that driving to work is innocent and if u get into an accident its not b/c it was bound to happen…ur not a bad person for driving to work everyday, just as she is not a bad person for being a party animal. sometimes life just sh!ts on good people. and yea her personality wont make the family feel better about what happened, but neither will the destruction of another life, which is essentially what will happen if she is given the max sentence.
@homeschooler are u kidding me? Do u not understand the fact that this girl is a normal person? She is not a killer. THE FACT THAT SHE KILLED SOMEONE IS PROBABLY KILLING HER INSIDE. that fact alone could make any normal person change their ways. And I never said it was up to me…thats wat I am hoping for. Who r u to say what she will or wont do when she gets out?
You people rly have cold hearts….wat if that was ur daughter about to get thrown in prison with rapists, murderers and serial killers? And I know what ur gonna say “what if that was ur mom that died.” I would be sad but considering the circumstances, I would not wish eternal suffering on the person who took her life(especially someone so young w/ so much potential), unless that person had a history of DRUNK DRIVING. chasity doesn’t. u ppl are just assuming she does off what u gathered from some nonsense that her bewildered 80 year old mom babbled after being bombarded by news cameras at her own house. she has a history of bad driving, and unless u all are nascar perfect when behind the wheel, thats nothing to frown upon. Like I said, she deserves to serve time for taking a life, but treating her like she is no different from a cold hearted killer is preposterous.
Yall keep saying its not a mistake to drive drunk its a choice…ok well the choice she made was a mistake. Besides, last time I checked people dont make the best choices when they are drunk. I bet half of u baby boomers were a mistakes.
Fred
January 27th, 2012
8:15 pm
LOL Well here is ONE way to avoid prosecution for a hit and run/DUI…………
http://www.ajc.com/news/gwinnett/suspects-body-pulled-from-1320286.html
Fred
January 27th, 2012
8:17 pm
@Hello: I may be a mistake but I CAN write in a legible manner. Grow up and join the adult world soon please.
Hello
January 27th, 2012
8:40 pm
@Fred first of all, this is an online blog…not english class, and if u can’t read that then you have much bigger issues then being a mistake. that last sentence was CLEARLY a typo…thought u were smart enough to realize that….I put too much faith in ppl. dam baby boomers X-D
Hello
January 27th, 2012
8:45 pm
are u dyslexic?
Fred
January 27th, 2012
8:59 pm
I can’t read your pidgen english and you obviously lack the ability to communicate using the written word. I’m sure the cash register you use at McDonald’s calculates the change for you to give the customer. Don’t forget to ask them if they want to super size………
motherjanegoose
January 27th, 2012
9:00 pm
@ Hello…I ran this by my 24 year old son and he said that if her friends knew she was a party animal they were not very good friends because they would have kept a better eye on her. This is not an old woman speaking…this is someone your age. This is an old woman speaking, ” You have rare friends in your life that will stand by you no matter what. I hope you all are there for her and visit her each week for the next several years…no matter how long she has to serve. Look yourself in the mirror in five years and think of how thick your friendship is and where it has headed. What will you sacrifice to keep your friendship going on a regular basis?”
DB
January 27th, 2012
9:03 pm
I feel sorry for her — her life, as she has know it, is over. She will always be “that girl” who got drunk and murdered someone. Do I have any sympathy for her? No. She’s an adult, and she’s been as bombarded as the rest of the world on the dangers of driving while under the influence. She can’t plead ignorance. My sympathy is reserved for her victims — the policewoman and her family, who will be living this nightmare of watching their young adult child, who had her whole life in front of her, completely ruin it.
I always told my kids that I will support and love them no matter what — but if they get a DUI, they are on their own when it comes to legal fees, etc., because I had no intention of paying for their active decision to be stupid.
I had a co-worker a few years ago who ended up going to jail after a DUI that involved a fatality. She was celebrating passing a rigorous professional exam — and on the way home, after one too many margaritas, made a wrong turn, hit a car and killed the driver. She had a good driving record before that. The legal process being what it is, it was almost a year before she went to trial — and at that point, she was expecting another child. She was sentenced to jail, but sentence was delayed until after she gave birth. She went to jail when her baby was just a few days old, for 10 years.
The Quad Squad
January 27th, 2012
9:04 pm
every one of u is a lyin hypocrite. U all been drunk driving. Chasity made one mistake and should serve no more than 1 year.
Hello
January 27th, 2012
9:15 pm
@fred
I didnt understand a word of that. your spelling of pidgen threw me off. did u mean PIDGIN english??
Sorry, im incapable of using my brain and ur points are so overwhelmingly bulletproof that I am just going to say that I dont understand u.
DB
January 27th, 2012
9:19 pm
@Hello: For someone who is not a killer, why is someone dead? The girl probably does feel awful. Feeling bad isn’t going to undo the consequences of her poor decisions, though. It wasn’t premeditated, but when she made the decision to drive drunk, at over twice the legal alcohol limit, she made a conscious choice to take a risk. The problem with DUI’s is that when someone chooses to take such a risk, they endanger not only themselves, but everyone else on the road — none of whom made the same choice to chance the same risk.
I agree with you, this experience will probably change her. However, since she has shown a consistent record of flouting traffic laws, it is fair to say that she has not shown an ability to learn from those mistakes. Most people figure out after a speeding ticket or two that they better slow the hell down a bit. (I bet her insurance bill was terrifying.)
My daughter will be 21 in a few weeks. I would be crushed and heartbroken if she ruined her life with such a stupid choice, and I would spend years wondering if there was something else I could have done or said to have caused her to make a better choice. But, at her age, her choices — right or wrong — are her own. I’d much rather be dancing at her wedding and enjoying a grandchild in the next 10 or 15 years instead of visiting her once at month at the woman’s prison. Decisions carry consequences. Perhaps the consequences this young woman will face will help wake up her friends to the cold, harsh realities of life.