[ratdude747]

(Speaking as a "mentor" to younger friends in the like)

I (and my wife) have had to deal with this before... somebody who'se getting into the vices and the authorities (their over-punishing parents) aren't going to actually fix the root problem.

It's a fine line... On one hand you love them and want them to suceed in life, on the other, you don't want to tolerate immoral/illegal behavior. It's a fine line to walk. Where the line is, well, it depends on the person and relationship to the mentor. Sometimes you don't know where it is. It's a struggle; at least I (and others) can know that by caring in the first place, we've made the first step.

(Note- if there is a formal policy over one's head, that changes things, rules are rules).