Definitely not. She should not go to jail. That is way unfair!

I saw that on the news last night too. From the knowledge I have of the situation, I think it's ridiculous...especially the way they stormed her house. Kids need to be taught how to drink alcohol responsibly rather than just stopping them from drinking altogether, in my opinion. It's better they drink in the house under her supervision than go into town, get drunk, sleep with girls and catch a bunch of STDs before getting in a car drunk and driving home, possibly killing themselves and others on the way. I have to say, as much as America in general appeals to me, I think the way they deal with alcohol is out of sync for the 21st century.

This woman violated the law. she served or allowed to be served, alcohol to minors in her home. this is contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Based on the facts of this case, i agree with the two years. serving alcohol to your own child is bad, but serving alcohol to someone else's child is unbelievable. If these children had left this womans house intoxicated and killed themselves or other innocent people, imagine the outcome. This woman was absolutely wrong. This was probably not her first time to serve.

Its well over the top, she was being sensible, she broke a law but hey, 2 years :-(

If you want to allow your child to have alcohol in your own home under your supervision, it is up to the parent. Serving it to other people's kids... not the brightest idea. As a kid I would have loved that kind of parent, but as a parent, I would be outraged. The way it was handled was wrong on both sides from what I have heard/read.

Not sure, did the friends drink too? If it was just her son, I dont see anything wrong with it. But not his friends as well. I would never do that.

It would never happen in the UK. It is strange that a 15year old can drive, a 17 year old join the army an 18 year old carry a gun in the same stae as this woman comes from but it is illegal to drin=k beer until 21. I think that there are anomolies in such laws but we have to abide by them and breaking them brings about consequences. She is paying the price that she expected in fact it is less and ssms to have accep[ted the punishment. Over the top? Yes I believe so but going back to Britain we seem to be over the top at giving no punishment at all for these minor offences.

I think that it's too harsh a sentence. I also think it's a mistake to allow a sixteen year old to drink alcohol. studies show that the younger you are when you being to drink the more likely you are to have a problem with it. I think education on this matter would have been far more effective.

The woman should get punished, but not that hard. It was a bad thing that she did that, so she should get a lighter sentence.

I think it is definitely fair. As a parent of one of his friends, I would be livid about her irresponsibility of not only allowing her child (which is really her business), but of allowing my child to participate. Overall, when a child is under my care, I treat them as if they were mine as far as these types of decisions go. My house rules extend to my children's friends when their under my roof.

NOT HARDLY, If they feel that concerned about alcohol then pull it off every shelf in america, personally I dont care for it and the other should be legal, Just another bearucratic snizzle in the drizzle, how much more of this unorthodoxed dicsipline are we gonna take? Where did all these idiots come from that think they can do this to another human being? Are they alliens from another planet cause it just isnt right.

no, i don't think this is fair at all. even if you think that's wrong, that was overly harsh punishment. i'm not sure it is wrong though; she's his parent. she should be able to let her 16 year old son taste a small amount of alcohol if she wants. she's the parent.

No is it heck most 16 year olds here are drunk and in the gutter throwing up and the parents dont get done,i know the laws are different but i think the police should be doing more important things than that give her a caution or a dressing down.

Its wrong to teach your child its okay to do something illigal. You are teaching them its okay to do it, just don't get caught. 2 years is a little harsh. But she knew it was illigal.

The upheaval this will cause for her family far outweighs the damage she did. The US is far too eager to lock people up for relatively minor infractions, this one included. 100 years ago this never would have happened. Where do we draw the line...and when will we learn that it is expensive and harmful to imprison people for drug or alcohol offenses? No country incarcerates as large a percentage of the population as we do. We need to clue in and stay the hell out of other peoples lives. If she gave access to alcohol to other minors, it should be a civil matter (boy, am I glad things weren't like this when I was a teenager! Everyone I know would have been locked up!) Read on: In 2005, the number of prisoners under the jurisdiction of the Federal or State adult correctional authorities was 1,418,406 and overall, the United States imprisoned 2,193,798 persons. [1] The U.S. has experienced a surge in its prison population, quadrupling since 1980, partially as a result of mandated sentences that came about during the "war on drugs" and despite the decline in violent crime and property crime since the early 1990s[2]. The three states with the lowest ratio of imprisoned to civilian population are, as of 2004, Maine (148 per 100,000), Minnesota (171 per 100,000), and Rhode Island (175 per 100,000). The three states with the highest ratio are Louisiana (816 per 100,000), Texas (694 per 100,000), and Mississippi (669 per 100,000). [3] In terms of federal prison, 57 % of those incarcerated were sentenced for drug offenses. Currently, considering local jails as well, almost a million of those incarcerated are in prison for non-violent crime. [4] (Wikipedia)

No, I don't think it's fair at all.

it is very harsh particularly if you come from Europe. On the other hand if she was allowing (Children well under drinking age) who were not her ownto drink on her premises, maybe the other parents were not happy with the situation. Somebody would have had to make a complaint. It is not something i agree with as in our home we were allowed a small amount of wine with meals from a very young age. It would seem to me another parent made a complaint and the Police are obliged to act .

On the surface tis not, but I suspect a great deal more to the story.

No that is utterly unfair, 16 and only allowed a tipple? Poor little guy he must have barely had much fun at all...

THis is wrong the us needs to change the laws. I mean hello. I've always thought that maybe there should be a test u can take when u turn 18 on drinking like to see if u are mature enough to be able to drink then they can ouch ur ID or something. In other countries they allow teenagers to drink with supervision from parents why not here. I mean as long as ur not giving ur under age child enough alcohol to harm them but one drink won't hurt a 16 yr old. What the hell the do it anyway if the parent is around or not so I would reather he around to make sure my child doesn't drive or do something else stupid on the other hand if another adult gave my child alcohol with out my promision I would probably throw a fit

Personally I don't think that this is fair. The issue really goes to the root of the question: what is the role of the parent and the government in raising a child. I was raised in a traditional home by older parents. I learned that there are limitations to one's behaviour. I believe that a parent should have some latitude in raising a child. Everything is a matter of being reasonable and not abusive. That is what I believe to be fair and in the best interts of the family.

Mamma! We italo-australian families would be in big problems. Our children had sips of wine from when they were quite small. That is normal.

No it should be 5 years I have no sympathy for a parent to blatantly break the law especially when it involves a minor and your own son. I feel sorry for anyone who wants to defend her and has sympathy for her you only contribute to the downward spiral this country is heading too.

I think, fair or not, the issue is that she broke the law, encouraged her son and his friends to break the law, and then asked them to lie about it when she was caught. We can complain about the laws all we want, but if you break one, you should be willing to pay the consequences. Drinking isn't the issue here -- what kind of example is this lady setting for her son? "If you don't agree with the law, you don't have to follow it." I don't think that's responsible.

It is totally unfair! i would say the judical system is being a bit of a bully by imposing such a harsh punishment for such a crime(which it considers a crime). there are so many bigger issues in life and crimes...its funny how such matters are given such importance.

the legal systems of the western world are totally out of control. She gets 2 years and OJ and Michael Jackson walk...figure that out:(

No I certainly don't; but if that's what the judicial system is like, she knew the score. What a place to live...

That is unfair. ITS HER SON! WHAT HAPPENED TO PARENTAL CONSENT?!?!?!?!??

No, I don't. I think that parents should be allowed to make the call as to what their children can or cannot handle, and that it wasn't the state's call or place to judge how she's raising her child. If her son was the only one drinking, this isn't a fair sentence. If his friends were drinking as well, it becomes a stickier situation.

America is a police country. Teenagers should learn do deal with alcohol and not get drunk. This poor woman probably had no money to hire an attorney and that's why she went to jail. Money talks in the court system. Look at Michael Jackson, he even admitted in court that he gave wine to these boys. And of course nothing happened to him

I imagine from the wording of your question, the problem was not that she allowed her son to drink, but that while in a situation of loco parentis, she allowed the other boys to drink, without their parents being aware of it. Even so, a prison sentence seems extraordinarily severe. IMO prison should be reserved for massive fraud or violent crimes.

If her son was the only one drinking, no, it is not fair. If she was providing alcohol to his friends, yes, it was fair. If I found out someone was giving my underage children drugs and or alcohol while under their supervision, I would be plenty pissed. If she wants to allow her son a little supervised drinking, that's her business, but she does not have the right to make that decision for my children.

Outrageous! Poor woman.

Really? That's crazy. Legal in Australia.

no. this is very harsh. infact i dont even think a jail sentence is necessary, evry one has alcohol at young ages (not that 16 is young)

If this is the story, the sentencing is ridiculous: Party Host Mom Set for Va. Jail Term Alcohol at Son's 16th Gets 27-Month Sentence By Daniela Deane Washington Post Staff Writer Saturday, June 9, 2007; Page A01 CHARLOTTESVILLE -- Ryan Kenty, 20, and his brother Brandon, still a sophomore in high school, plan to drive their mother to jail Monday morning before heading back to her rented apartment to move the rest of her belongings into storage. Their mom, Elisa Kelly, and her ex-husband, George Robinson, are paying the price for hosting Ryan's 16th birthday party -- more than two years in jail each. Ryan had asked his mother to buy his friends some beer and wine, as long as they all spent the night. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/08/AR2007060802795.html

WOW. What podunk little town did that happen in? That is just evil.

If the story is true, that's a very harsh and quite an extreme punishment.

Its not just unfair, its unjust. It may have a been a lapse of the system and not a deliberate punitive result. I would be interested to know if she hired a lawyer or one was appointed to her or the due process was even followed. Sounds more like a case that was buried in neglect and forgetfulness rather than usual system operation.

America is becoming a sick Nation. Get your act together America and use common sense. Used to be the Nation with the most freedom and now America is becoming a controlled state full of brainwashed weirdos. What's next? This story sounds like the story of the 8 yeard old who went to jail for spying his little sister peeing!! The family left America after that! Good for them and sad for all the others who have to suffer from all the weirdos!!!

2yrs is a rediculous sentence...the system is so screwed