Outrage erupted online after a Louisiana mom proudly showed off her seventh-grade sons while they wore ankle monitors.
The mother shared an Instagram post featuring her two sons on what appeared to be their first day back at school. In the first picture, the boys stood at a gas station making hand gestures and posing for the camera while ankle monitors were visible around their legs.
In the same picture, the two boys were seen wearing ankle monitors, although it is unclear why they were required to wear them. “Levi went Ja 3 Noah went black mamba. My 7th graders,” the mother wrote in the caption. The fact that the boys were in seventh grade added to the reaction online, with some viewers expressing disbelief that children that young could be wearing ankle monitors.
Two additional pictures showed the boys posing while still wearing their ankle monitors. Many viewers criticized the mother in the comments, but she defended her sons. “They ain’t no [expletive] criminal,” she wrote. When another person commented on the ankle monitors, the mother responded, “I see it has you intrigued.” Despite the backlash, the mother did not delete the post or explain why the boys were wearing ankle monitors. Another post also showed one of the boys making a middle-finger gesture.
An ankle monitor does not by itself establish that someone has been convicted of a crime, and electronic monitoring can be imposed for different reasons within the juvenile justice system. Because the mother did not explain why her sons were wearing the devices, the circumstances surrounding them remain unclear.
Viewers Criticize Louisiana Mom Over Pictures of Sons
The post sparked reactions online. Many viewers criticized the Louisiana mother for publicly sharing the photos, particularly because the boys’ ankle monitors were clearly visible. Some argued that her decision to showcase the monitors could set a negative example for the boys. “Start them out early,” one person wrote. Another commenter said, “7th grader is grabbing his crotch and flashing gang signs. Won’t be long and he’ll be incarcerated.”
More viewers continued criticizing the mother, with some mocking her decision to share the photos. “She may not know where they are at all times but the government does,” one person wrote. Another commenter said, “I see a destructive life of crime in their future.” Someone else added, “That’s the problem with their people. They are clueless on how to raise children. They should have to take an IQ Test before they are allowed to have kids.”
The pictures sparked a broader conversation about how young children should avoid behavior that could potentially lead to court-ordered monitoring or other legal consequences. It also led to debate over whether parents should publicly showcase their children wearing ankle monitors or instead use such situations as an opportunity to provide guidance and support.
