Summary
Brittany Patterson, 41, was shocked to face a criminal charge for alleged reckless conduct when her unsupervised 10-year-old son walked less than a mile from their home.
Although authorities offered to drop the charge if she agreed to always supervise her children, Patterson refuses to sign, insisting she did nothing wrong and will fight the charge, which could lead to up to a year in jail.
Her lawyer argues that parents should have discretion over their children’s whereabouts, questioning if constant GPS tracking is now expected. Patterson was released on $500 bail.
It certainly isn’t common.
Most of the “small towns” would be villages everywhere else, but it feels like it’s shameful in the US. Maybe some places decided to roll with it.
It’s pretty common in NY state and other areas of New England. Outside of that area however, the term is rarely used outside of shopping centers, apartment complexes, or HOA governed planned housing communities.