Actions to help #FreeGrace
“A black, 15 year-old female student from Groves High School in Birmingham, MI with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) was incarcerated on alleged probation violation of not keeping up with her online schoolwork during the pandemic. Grace's teacher, who was supposed to speak on her behalf, was unable to testify because she had to leave to teach a class. The only person to speak on Grace's behalf was her caseworker, who was unaware of Grace's educational disabilities and her IEP. The presiding judge called her a "threat to the community." Here's a link to the story. “ -From Change.org
Update on the case: Judge Won’t Free Michigan Teenager Sent to Juvenile Detention After Not Doing Online Schoolwork
Please sign this petition to show your support to free Grace, provide her with the support and resources she ACTUALLY needs, and dismiss her case.
Advancement Project’s petition
Email or phone template for Judge Brennan
I am writing to demand that 15 year old, Grace, must be released from Juvenile detention immediately! She should never have been incarcerated. Failure to complete schoolwork does not make a child a “threat to the community.” You must dismiss her case and return her to her mother. She should receive the support and resources she actually needs from home.
Call Judge Mary Ellen Brennan
(248)-858-0355 Tues and Thurs 8:30- 4:30pm
248-701-3183 Mon Wed Fri 8:30- 4:30pm
EMAIL Judge Mary Ellen Brennan's CLERKS:
You can file a grievance form here, it’s quick and easy!
https://publicdocs.oakgov.com/Forms/FOC_Grievance
Grievance Procedure
230 Elizabeth Lake Road, Pontiac, Michigan
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 436012, Pontiac, MI 48343-0612
Telephone: (248) 858-0424 Fax: (248) 858-0461
Email or phone template for AG and Prosecutor
I am writing to demand that 15 year old, Grace, must be released from Juvenile detention immediately! She should never have been incarcerated. Failure to complete schoolwork does not make a child a “threat to the community.” You must dismiss her case and return her to her mother. She should receive the support and resources she actually needs from home.
I also demand that you fire caseworker Rachel Giroux for failing to support a child in need and Judge Mary Ellen Brennan for this racist decision.
Attorney General Dana Nessel
Phone: 517-335-7622
Fax: 517-335-7644
Email: info@oaklandprosecutor.org
Prosecutor Jessica R. Cooper
248 858 0656
Grace was incarcerated on the recommendation of Rachel Giroux, a caseworker assigned to her case. Giroux said that Grace should be detained because she “clearly doesn’t want to abide by the rules in the community.” Contrary to the recommendations of Grace's teacher, Giroux filed a violation of probation action against Grace for not doing homework. Notwithstanding the global pandemic, which has resulted in over a thousand deaths in Oakland County and has caused a huge upheaval in education across the country, children with ADHD struggle with things like homework and performance in school. Grace had an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), and that should have been taken into account when considering how to support her in school.
To demand accountability for Grace and other students like her, contact the supervisors of the Oakland County Casework Services:
Click here to send an auto-populated email that you can customize and send.
Or you can copy and paste the following:
Send to:
Chief-Casework Services: Tina Lathers
Phone: 248-858-0232
Email: LathersT@Oakgov.com
Supervisor-Courthouse: Melissa Reid
Phone: 248-858-0209
Email: ReidM@Oakgov.com
Supervisor-Intensive Probation: Jerry Seawright
Phone: 248-858-0217
Email: SeawrightJ@Oakgov.com
Supervisor-Troy: Stacey Doria
Phone: 248-655-1210
Email: DoriaS@Oakgov.com
Template
Chief Lathers, Supervisor Seawright, Supervisor Reid, and Supervisor Doria:
My name is [NAME] and I am writing in response to a recent article by Jodi S. Cohen in ProPublica. Fifteen-year-old "Grace" (her middle name) was recently incarcerated on the recommendation of Rachel Giroux, the Oakland County caseworker assigned to her case. Giroux said that Grace should be detained because she “clearly doesn’t want to abide by the rules in the community.” Contrary to the recommendations of Grace's teacher, Giroux filed a violation of probation action against Grace for not doing homework.
Notwithstanding the global pandemic, which has resulted in over a thousand deaths in Oakland County and has caused a huge upheaval in education across the country, children with ADHD struggle with things like homework and performance in school. Grace had an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), and that should have been taken into account when considering how to support her in school.:
This action by Giroux is an example of systemic racism. I am writing today to ask you to take action so that Grace can be brought home to her mother.
I am also asking you to take immediate steps to rectify the training processes for your caseworkers. There needs to be measurable steps to ensure that this doesn't happen again. Caseworkers should receive anti-racism training, and they should also receive training on childhood learning disabilities such as ADHD. Students should be supported so that they have the tools and coping mechanisms they need to overcome the barriers facing them. Putting a child in a detention facility, in the middle of a global pandemic, serves no one.
Thank you for considering my comments.
Email or phone template for School Administrators
I am writing to demand that 15 year old, Grace, must be released from Juvenile detention immediately! She should never have been incarcerated. Failure to complete schoolwork does not make a child a “threat to the community.” You must demand the court dismiss her case and return her to her mother. She should receive the support and resources she actually needs from home.
Birmingham Public Schools have failed their students. Grace should have been receiving the academic support and resources she needed. You need to take accountability for this failure. As many schools continue distance education in the fall, you cannot allow another student to be punished for your failure to support.
Email the Communication Director for Birmingham Public Schools, Anne Cron:
If you want to bring this to the attention of the BPS Board of Education:
bjennings@birmingham.k12.mi.us
ahochkammer@birmingham.k12.mi.us
nmckinney@birmingham.k12.mi.us
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