Special Report: Parents Paying The Price

You host a party ... and a teen crashes his car while driving home drunk.

You turn a blind eye ... as your daughter repeatedly skips school.

You keep a gun in the house... and your son pulls the trigger.

Who's to legally blame for these tragedies?

Richard Campbell, Attorney
"Most parents are unaware of the severe consequences they face."

In Massachusetts - if a child breaks the law - the parent may be forced to face the music... not only with fines and lawsuits... but actual jail time.

For example: some parents feel it's safer to host a party at home... throwing keys in the fishbowl... to keep kids off the streets.

Christine Eisnor, 17-year-old MADD Volunteer
"They think it would be safer for their child to be drinking in their home under their own roof than having them somewhere else."

What they don't realize is their enormous liability - should something go wrong.

Richard Campbell, Attorney
"Bad things can happen. I dare say bad things will happen. And the parent is going to be responsible."

Richard Campbell is an attorney who does seminars entitled "Be A Parent, Not A Pal." He says most parents are unaware of the risk they face by allowing teens to break the law on their watch.

Richard Campbell, Attorney
"If you do that, you are committing a crime."

A crime with heavy penalties. Mass law states if you give, deliver, or even allow alcohol consumption by a minor - you can face criminal prosecution -- a fine up to $2,000 and a year in jail. And then there's the civil side:

Richard Campbell, Attorney
"They would effectively pay the damages with their homes, their stock portfolios - every asset they have- because they will not be able to escape that liability."

Underage drinking is just the beginning. In Massachusetts - parents who leave guns loaded and unlocked at home - may spend up to 10 years in jail and pay a $10,000 fine if a child gets their hands on them.

And if a kid skips school seven times in six months, the school may file a criminal complaint against his or her parents.

Dr. Richard Moran, Professor, Mt. Holyoke College
"It's a little like holding the bartender responsible for drunk driving."

Not everyone agrees that punishing the parent is the best solution to curing crime and delinquency. Richard Moran is a criminology professor at Mount Holyoke College.

Dr. Richard Moran, Professor, Mt. Holyoke College
"We're trying to teach responsibility to young people and what we're saying in the end is "it's not your fault."

Moran says studies show parental liability laws do little to curb crime. In fact, he says, they may actually make the situation worse.

Dr. Richard Moran, Professor, Mt. Holyoke College
"If you imprison the parent, who's taking care of the children? So in that case it's totally illogical."

But other groups.. like Mother’s Against Drunk Driving... disagree...

Katie Horrigan, MADD Massachusetts
"Parents need to set a precedent that following the law is important."

They believe that bad parenting... deserves big penalties, and right now, Mass. law is on their side.