I find it ironic that people criticize the new generation as stupid and then lash out against attempts to keep kids in school.
I think there's something not clicking here... the only way I could imagine this as a true injustice would be if this is her first or second offense. I.E. 'good girl' goes out with some friends not knowing what she's getting into, and then she vows never to do it again and goes back to getting A's and whatever, and then big bad mister judge comes along and puts here in jail.
She has 18 illegal absences. She must have THOUSANDS of dollars worth of fines even to this point. She obviously did NOT want to go to school, and she needed significant punishment to be put there.
I think it's totally appropriate.