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Question: Are parents allowed to lock children in their bedrooms? If so, what is the max amount of time allowed?

Answer: Parents have the right and the duty of care, custody and control of their children. They may do whatever is reasonable to exercise their right and duty. The question is whether their action is reasonable and it depends upon the facts of each specific circumstance.

Parents certainly cannot lock a child in a bedroom and then go out to a party. That would place the child in an unsafe situation and would constitute child neglect.

It would probably be unreasonable to lock a child in a room without bathroom breaks for too long a time, or where there is no fresh air, or where there are dangerous fumes or other threats to the health and safety of the child. They would also have to be certain that the temperature in the room was reasonable, and perhaps that water was available. It would probably be unreasonable to lock a child in a room without light, at least in the daytime.

One would also have to consider how often this occurred, and for what reasons the child was locked in their room. If this is the only way that a parent can get this particular child to sit down and do homework, and it only occurs every school day for one hour, it might very well be acceptable. There is no specific law in Arizona regarding acceptable conditions. The matter would be up to a court to decide whether the parent's actions were reasonable.


Comments
11 thru 15 of 21 comments
On 05/16/03
?????????? from TX said:
Ashley I think that your Grandma is weird and you should be arrested for locking you down in your house and not letting you go anywhere, I hope that your charges get in the care of someone else,and good luck to you.
On 05/12/03
tomasina from AZ said:
ummm...locking children in their bedrooms? Well, that would be unfair. I mean the first time my friend mentioned a party, I had no idea what kind she ment. Or even a Forty(A big bottle of beer.)? And now that I am 16, and know what it can cause, I am glad that my parents keep my privledges on a mediun leash. The rest of you just be glad, and stay strong, we will all have chances. It is just our choice to choose our future. Gown-ups are just their for protection and counseling. Thank you for your time,be nice, don't turn to ice.
On 05/07/03
kimberly from MS said:
I do not think that children under the age of 18 should not be locked in their room or spanked.
On 04/16/03
ashley from TX said:
i understand where yall are coming from about children not having rights and such but my situation is more evolved then the current question. i am 17 years old and live with my grandmother. i have been living here since i was 14. my grandma takes the lockdown theory to an extreme. i am not allowed to leave the house for any reason unless i am with someone in my family. i cannot have friends over, nor go to friends houses. i am hardly allowed outside without getting hassled about what i am doing, or told to get back inside.i have recently been diagnosed as a border line manic depressive and als
On 01/15/03
shack from AZ said:
MR N/A do you remember being a student at school or do you have a kid well they will be adults and will be taking care of us one day soo just think about what your saying
11 thru 15 of 21 comments



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