Northwest Wayne News

Many Twitter users are using the hashtag #FreeGrace to call for the release of a Michigan teenager who was jailed for not doing her homework, Bridge Michigan reported on July 15.

Grace, which is the middle name of the 15-year-old -- used to protect her identity -- was taken to a juvenile detention center in May after she didn’t finish her schoolwork online, subsequently violating her probation in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Grace’s family has retained a new attorney, Jonathan Biernat, who said he plans to ask the judge to allow Grace to go home. At the same time, the case has quickly gained high-profile status, including the viral hashtag #FreeGrace on Twitter.

A petition on Change.org, launched to call for Grace’s release, garnered more than 25,000 signatures, as of July 15. Members of Congress, Oakland County officials and the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan have also stepped in and pushed for her release.

“She is handling (detention) remarkably well, and she is remarkably brave. She has a ton of potential,” Biernat told Bridge Michigan. “This child had no tether violations, no house violations. There was simply an issue of her doing her work in a way that was not satisfactory… If the judge wanted her to get help and succeeded, she should have kept her at home and provided her with additional services.”

Grace’s probation stems from an incident last year, when she was a sophomore at Groves High School in Beverly Hills. Grace was ultimately charged with assault and theft and put on probation until mid-April.

One of the terms of her probation was that she has to finish her homework. But amid the spread of COVID-19 and schools shutting down, forcing students to take coursework online, she was unable to complete some assignments. It was also noted that Grace has ADHD and has received special education resources.

Grace’s next court date is Sept. 8.