In the News

Pioneer Press, January 4, 2007

The accident that claimed the lives of two Deerfield teens last year may become the catalyst for tougher laws against parents who allow underage drinking to go on in their homes.

State Sen. Susan Garrett, D-29th, of Lake Forest, said she hopes to introduce legislation this year that would replace part of a measure struck down by the Illinois Supreme Court in 2002 which sought to hold parents accountable for the consumption of alcohol by minors in their homes. That measure was ruled too vague by the supreme court justices.

"What we have here is an accountability issue," Garrett said. "Certainly, the students should be accountable, but also the parents who are in a position to prevent the drinking in their home should also be accountable."

"We need to look at the whole picture," Garrett said. "Not only at the parents, not only at the kids, not only at the schools, but at all of these. It's not one versus another, but a combined effort to make sure we do everything to keep our kids safe."

Deerfield Mayor Steve Harris says he supports efforts by Garrett and others, to develop new state statutes to hold parents accountable.

"I think we are sending the appropriate message across Deerfield and the North Shore," said Harris. "That is, adults who are hosting parties where risky behavior such as underage drinking knowingly takes place should be held accountable. We need to tighten loopholes in order to make this happen."

Last week, Jeffrey A. Hutsell, 53, and his wife Sara, 52, of the 700 block of Summit Drive, Deerfield, were charged with five misdemeanors include two counts of violating the Deerfield liquor control act; one count of endangering the health of a child; and two counts of attempting to obstruct justice. The charges stem from a Deerfield Police investigation of a party at their home Oct. 13.

That evening, two Deerfield area youth, Danny Bell, 18, of Bannockburn and Ross Trace, 18, of Riverwoods, died after the mini-van they were in crashed into a tree. Police said both youths had been to the party at the Hutsell's home and were returning when their vehicle struck into a tree near the driveway, also injuring three other youth.

But not everyone has been as eager to jump on the bandwagon of placing accountability at the feet of parents. In letters to the Deerfield Review this week, two residents question the charges against the Hutsells, and the precedents that are being set.

Janet Davis, of Bannockburn, suggests any parent could easily find themselves in the same situation, through no fault of their own.

"The kids could have been at my house that night...or yours. The house had nothing to do with the tragedy," Davis writes. "The drinking was going to happen that night, no matter where those kids were."

"I suggest that the community rally around the Hutsells and recognize that this form of 'justice' will do nothing more than keep kids from hanging out at their friends homes anymore. They will drink while they drive around." she continued. "It is time that we make the penalties tougher on the kids, where it belongs."

Still, Cathy Cratty, director of student and employee assistance programs with School District 113, is convinced parents are the key to combatting the problem.

"In the past, the prevention efforts have really focused on kids," Cratty said. "But we know we really haven't made a lot of headway with kids. We see the problems continue."

"The kids who choose not to use do so because of their parents," she said. "They say they don't want to disappoint their parents. That's the best prevention that there is. We need parents to really understand this. The parents have to put their foot down and just say no."

Volunteers step forward

A committee has formed since the last Town Hall meeting on Nov. 28 at Highland Park High School that drew over 750 people to discuss prevention strategies for underage drinking.

Out of that crowd, approximately 130 people volunteered to be on a committee, and 30 of those agreed to serve as leaders of the effort, Cratty said.

"Now, they will be working on a campaign about parental influence and responsibility in all of our communities," Cratty said. "The committee will be defining that campaign."

On January 30, a steering committee will meet at Deerfield high school determine what the campaign will include. This meeting is not open to the public.

The next public Town Hall meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 6 at Deerfield High School.

According to Daniel Shanes, chief of felony review for the Lake County State's Attorney's office, the charges against the Hutsell's stem from failing to control a party at their home.

"The Hutsells were at home at the time," Shanes said. "They knew their son was having a party, and several dozen kids were coming and going from their home."

The Hutsell's son, Jonathan Tyler Hutsell, 18, had been charged with illegal consumption of alcohol for a minor in January and again in June, 2006, according to records from the Lake County Clerk's office. He was fined, given court supervision and community service and placed on probation.

Dep. Chief Rick Wilk said parents should be held responsible for what their children do, especially if parents are at home.

"From what we hear directly from teenagers, it is pretty well known that kids can go to someone's house because the parents allow it," Wilk said. "The parents look the other way. You should be held responsible for what happens in your home, just like you are in your car."