Georgia Mom Arrested and Shackled Because Her Son Took 3 Unexcused Absences When He Was Sick

Giles says her son is often sick, but she can't afford the co-pay to take him to the doctor and get a note for an excused absence

A Georgia mother was arrested earlier this month after her son had 12 unexcused absences from school over the past year.

Julie Giles posted on Facebook May 14 that she turned herself in after a warrant was issued for her arrest. “I was actually placed in ankle shackles!” she wrote.

Screven County Sheriff Mike Kile confirmed Giles’ arrest to PEOPLE, adding that putting her in ankles shackles is standard procedure for anyone who’s arrested in the county.

Children in Screven County are allowed six unexcused absences per year. Giles claims that her son Samuel had an additional three absences that were excused by a doctor. That means she was arrested over just three unexcused absences.

She wrote on Facebook that her son is often sick and she’s sometimes forced to keep him home from school without being able to get a note because she can’t afford the cost of taking him to see a doctor, Fox reports. Still, Samuel manages to make high grades despite his absences.

“Samuel was presented with his ‘Student of the Month’ tee today,” Giles wrote on Facebook May 15. “He was chosen before this whole absence fiasco happened, but he got his tee today.”

She added: “His teacher said that Sam was chosen because he always tries to make others feel better about themselves and will even engage in activities that aren’t his first choice, but are his friend’s choice, to make his classmates feel special.

“I can be proud of my mothering, with or without shackles and mug shots, because the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world,” she concluded.

Giles is due in court on July 14. She faces a $1,000 fine and up to 12 months in jail, though Sheriff Kile tells PEOPLE that she’ll likely just get probation.

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