Mother charged after putting recording device in daughter's backpack to catch 'bullying'

[TexasBushwhacker]

Last edited Thu Nov 23, 2017, 06:22 PM - Edit history (1)

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/mother-charged-putting-recording-device-113042097.html


"A mother has been charged by police in the US after putting a recording device in her daughter’s backpack to catch alleged bullying.

Sarah Sims, from Virginia, admitted to local news website WAVY she placed the electronic recorder in her nine-year-old daughter’s bag to record classroom conversations after suspecting she was being bullied.

She claims her emails and calls to Ocean View Elementary school, Norfolk, about the alleged bullying in September went unanswered and so she decided to intervene.

However the recorder was discovered and Ms Sims was later charged with the use of a device to intercept oral communication, which carries a maximum five-year prison sentence, and a misdemeanor contributing to the delinquency of a minor."

[bluestarone]

1. everything

is rigged against the common person

[Fullduplexxx]

2. Wtf kind of bullshit law is that?

[dawg]

3. So, I guess we're locking up Jeff Bezos for that damned Echo thing then.

Hell, the damned phones are listening to us. You talk about something and before long a mobile ad will pop up to sell it to you.

[d_r]

4. nuts

If I want to put a recorder in my kids back pack, I'd put a recorder in my kids back pack.

What if someone wanted to record the lessons to review later?

Look, any time a school doesn't want parents to know what is going on inside a classroom there is a problem. Period.

[metalbot]

5. It's about consent

And state laws are mixed on whether one or all parties need to consent in order for a conversation in which privacy could be expected can be recorded.

Texas, for example, is a one-party consent state. That means I can record a conversation with someone and I'm under to obligation to tell anyone that I'm recording them.

Eleven states require consent from everyone who is being recorded.

Virginia is a one-party consent state, but it may be that the girl couldn't give consent (or was not informed).

[d_r]

6. well you are getting the classmates

that are minors on the recording

[Lee-Lee]

10. Even in one oartynconsentbstates this wouldnt fly

Assuming Mom didn’t tell the girl- which she likely didn’t- you now have zero parties consenting.

In addition if the book bag left the girls person and was laying near anyone else in a conversation you have none of the parties consenting even if the girl was aware.

[lostnfound]

11. Parents generally give consent on behalf of children. Child not legally able to do much.

[ProudLib72]

7. A student recorded me without my consent

I was pissed as hell. Administration though it was ok.

The example in the OP is beyond ridiculous. That woman needs to sue the school for failing to protect her child.

[TexasBushwhacker]

8. I think they had her arrested to keep her from suing them.

If she agrees not to sue them, they'll agree to drop the charges.

[ProudLib72]

9. Oh!

I admit I read this story earlier (from a different source), and I didn't get that impression. If that's the case, then she should remove her child from that school ASAP and have nothing more to do with them.

It's unfortunate (and infuriating) that a school would not take responsibility for its student's safety and then arrest the victim, but sometimes it's just easier to move on. At least the story is out there.