Scrutinizing Marriages of Girls

The disclosure three weeks ago that Orange County officials have allowed some teenage girls to marry older males who impregnated them has produced a needed discussion of the appallingly high number of teenage pregnancies and debate over how best to help young mothers and their babies.

The Orange County grand jury reportedly will look into the practice of the county Social Services Agency allowing some of these marriages to occur. The grand jury’s involvement is welcome. An in-depth investigation by men and women who are representatives of the county’s population and are accustomed to scrutinizing how county agencies work could go far to determining what new guidelines are needed.

Sexual intercourse between an adult and a minor 15 or older is a crime. If the minor is 14 or younger, there is an additional crime of child abuse. The director of the Social Services Agency has said that all cases of intercourse between an adult and a minor brought to the attention of the agency have been reported to police for a decision on whether to prosecute.

In cases where prosecution was waived and parents or guardians did not take custody of the child, the case was brought to a Juvenile Court judge, the director said. Some of those cases resulted in marriages--once between a 13-year-old girl and a 20-year-old man.

Granted, among older girls and men nearly their age, there may be instances in which marriage is the best of several undesirable outcomes. But girls 13 or 14 should not have marriages sanctioned. They are too young. The fact that they have become mothers so early in their lives is extremely unfortunate.

The head of the state Department of Social Services, Eloise Anderson, recommended that young mothers be counseled and encouraged to give their babies up for adoption. That is sensible, though it is often difficult to find adoptive parents in Orange County. Anderson also called for prosecuting the adult males who impregnate young girls. That also should be done in many cases.

But experts have warned that these cases are not amenable to a “one size fits all” solution. The grand jury can help provide guidance to police, social workers and judges grappling with a problem that is enormously troubling.