Judge defends daughter’s ‘timeout’ in jail

Kim Smith

Friday, Aug. 16, 2002 | 10:02 a.m.

Family Court Judge Steven Jones Thursday sought to quell questions that have arisen about his handling of a family situation using court resources.

Jones acknowledges he locked up his teenage daughter in an adult holding cell at Family Court in July.

District Court spokesman Michael Sommermeyer declined to comment on the incident, saying it was a personnel matter.

In his statement, Jones said he explained to his daughter that bad behavior can result in a loss of freedom.

"During the lunch hour, bailiffs, who have known my daughter for most of her life, accompanied my daughter to an unoccupied and unneeded holding cell, which was completely secure. She stayed there for about two and a half hours, and then returned to my office," Jones said.

"At no time did she come into contact with any adult detainees and at no time was she subjected to any physical force. What I did, in effect, was impose a serious 'time out' which gave her an opportunity to assess the potential consequences of her behavior."

Jones said he is "certain that my actions that day were understood by my daughter to have been taken in her best interest and were designed, ultimately, to protect guide her."