3 children detained by Judge for not having dinner with Dad

So are they being detained to be kept away from the mother? So that she can't 'brainwash' them anymore? Or is it to punish the children for not complying with court orders to have dinner with their father?

But I have to say.... some parents royaly screws up their kids lives by making them pick sides and lie about each other to gain sympathy. I hope these poor kids are able to have a normal as possible relationship with either parent in time. I feel for them...

While this is very true, the kids should not be punished for what the mom did. They are in juvenile detention with kids who have actually broken laws. One is only nine!  

They are are being punished for not having a good relationship with someone. Really, how is that going to help. It just proves to them that everything mom has said is true. "Look what dad is doing to you. "

So the father moved to Israel and hasn't spent time with them for five years?!  Even if it is totally the mothers fault, it is no wonder the kids don't want to go with someone they barely know.  The little ones were four and five when he moved. Unless both parents are working towards what is best for the kids, it would be hard to keep that relationship strong. 

I hate to say it, but if you move across the world from your kids, and don't have a good relationship with the other parent, you have to know it won't turn out well. 

I find the judges actions to be an extreme overreaction.

According to the article scrapsotime linked all the children had to do was go to eat with their father in the cafeteria. The mother might be brainwashing them. They are children. They can be made to do what they are told. How many of us have to sometimes being a little forceful with convincing our children to do what they are told.

But that may be too much to ask of them if they fear violence. I'm not saying they are right to fear it, but even if it is brain washing it is real to them. I wouldn't want to sit and have a meal with someone who was violent to me and I am a rational thinking adult who knows nothing would likely happen in a public place. They are looking at this through children's minds and the mom may have planted some scary stuff in there. 

They can't force it. They need to go slowly with therapists. 

I agree with those who say we are missing some big pieces of this. I don't know if it's just the way it's being reported, but it sounds like the judge is very close to being too personally invested in this whole thing too. How can you even issue an order to a child to "have a healthy relationship" with someone? And then blame them (the children) when the judge herself says they have been brainwashed? This is a really sad situation, and no matter who is right (if anyone really is) there are no winners.

I can't even fathom why this judge would think it we be a good idea to send three (innocent) children to a juvenile detention facility. The youngest is 9!! Imagine how terrified they must be! Maybe her plan is to scare them into having a FORCED relationship with their father.

There is no reason why anyone should be forced to have a relationship with someone else. Especially kids.

I read on one article that the father was out of the country for two weeks on business (left shortly after the judge took the kids) and he is the only one that could make things right. Sounds like he pretty much deserted them when they needed him the most. It also sounds like he wants to "Win at all costs" even if his children lose horrible because of it.

What if something violent happens to one of the children while there??? I'm sure that all the other kids that are housed there currently weren't taken away in a nasty custody battle!

So do I. Punishing them with juvenile detention for not having a good relationship with their father is NOT the way to encourage a good relationship with their father.

I think there is more to the story than what is printed. The way I read the article it seemed like the mother divorced the father due to him moving out of the country. She could easily be bitter about it. I agree a person cannot be made to have a good relationship with someone. I think this is something that needs to be navigated with a therapist. If the father was really interested in having a relationship with his children then he should have tried to get a job that is in the US.

I've read a number of stories about the case, including the one in the Observer that mysteriously went up after the father hired himself a publicist (and then went away on business, leaving his kids in a facility, because obviously his primary interest here is in them). I've also read the transcripts.

Juvenile facilities are not for remedying family discord. The judge was out of line, and it actually really concerns me about her judgment in general, if she is willing to send nine- and ten-year-old kids to a detention facility on this rationale. I do not know enough factually about the facility they were sent to -- there are contradictory stories in the various articles -- but empirical studies generally demonstrate that juvenile detention centers make it more likely that kids will do things like commit crimes and get in serious trouble going forward. I expect a family court judge to have a very, very good reason to detain a juvenile for that reason, and this isn't it.

If there are concerns about the mother, address those. If she isn't (as the father contends) respecting the terms of their visitation order, address that. At least one of the articles described the visitation as supervised, which makes me wonder quite a bit about the father in the first place. But I do not need to know or suspect anything about child or parent abuse in this case to say that putting kids in a juvenile facility because they have a terrible relationship with one of their parents is the wrong approach to healing the relationship.

Actually a more appropriate remedy for the mothers brainwashing would've been to transfer custody of the children to the father. Something needs to be done in these types of nope I have no problem at all with this judges decision. In addition, had I been the child, I would've use the parental alienation to give the father custody and too bad for the mom

In my mind there is nothing that those kids could have done that justified essentially ripping that family further apart.  Originally the kids were to be kept separated even from each other and no parental visits at all  until they turn 18 according to what I've read.  There are serious convicted criminals that don't get that harsh a punishment.  The youngest was looking at doing more "time" then some child molesters, rapists, and murderers.  


And she can pretty it up and say they were kept separate from offenders but I don't buy.  Unless they were on separate premises with entirely different staff and no exposure whatsoever, I'm not buying what she's selling.  I have lived near a place like that and when they were let outdoors, it was less like recess and more like a prison movie (and that's the less serious offenders).  Such an environment seems much worse to me than what I've read of their home-life.  I think the only reason they are "out" at the moment was this hit the news.

How is it we teach kids that bullying is wrong but then we let our system and the people who are sworn to uphold it do exactly that?  Does she really think anyone involved (except the father perhaps) is going to be grateful for what has happened?  I think she's done tremendous damage and wouldn't be at all surprised if one of those kids later snaps and ends up on the news with a new tragedy.  I believe she poured gasoline on an already dangerous situation.  She's using her position to force her will on innocent parties, the very parties she is supposed to protect.

Some of those kids are nearing an age where their wishes would be taken into account and they would be allowed to choose which parent they went with.  Will the judge suddenly believe them and accept this once they are of age or is her all-knowing opinion carry more weight?  How exactly does she think this will in any way endear the kids to their father, especially if he tries to remove them from this country?  Does she really think she can force the kids to get along with him?  

I'm boggled that something like this could happen anywhere in the world, much less in America.  Terminating a parents rights when no crime has been committed or proven?  Dividing up a family?  Frankly, we should all be terrified if this sets a precedent.  Sure we all think, "well it could never happen to me.  I have nothing to worry about."  I'm sure their mother, whether she is as evil as the judge thinks or not, thought the same thing.

Yes, the restrictions are extreme, and would typically only be used if the Court was trying to facilitate 'deprogamming' the children.