In the case of James and faced with two ten year old murderers...is there any right way of dealing with it? If you could make the parents partially responsible, how would that have made the situation any better?
Sir O
Thank you for sharing your story. I told mine in the hope that anyone reading will not feel isolated if negative things have happened, they can change their life for the better. Any adults who have engaged in violence might think twice of the outcome.
To be clearer. Once an action has been taken it can't be taken back, they must live with the reaction.
As I have mentioned ideally each case should be dealt with individually but we lack money, resources, time and commitment.
In extreme cases beyond a doubt, yes the person should be charged with the full force of the law appropriate to the crime. In some rare cases as in James's additional punishment - treatment should be taken. I don't know what. I'm not in the field of making laws.
I do NOT believe children should be put in adult prisons where they’re raped; learn better techniques in crime, become resentful, bitter and a bigger danger to society when released.
There should be some kind of government programme to employee more professionally trained physiatrists (Dr’s) to correctly evaluate potential problems, existing problems and various forms of treatment to assist the individual in some sort of rehabilitation - if possible. The treating Doctor should have available updated education at all times. Like most things the rewards for this type of work to Doctors should be equal to the responsibility, it rarely is, so the incentive to give the best is not encouraged.
Self esteem is essential. Achieving attainable goals in rehab develops confidence, self awareness, realisation of a brighter future and other benfits
As far has holding the parents/guardian/caretaker responsible (parent)
* You can't put them in jail.
* You can't change their mode of thinking or lifestyle choice no matter how irresponsible unless they want the change.
* I think what would be helpful is to have them in the room with the juvenile with the crime coherently and in simple terms explained, outcome of crime, what may have lead to the action, etc. If there are alternative ways to change behavior of either. The parent usually does have more than one child and potential children in their care.
* Those juveniles that have records should be taken to an adult prison and shown what the system is like. The results of doing this in the US had a impact on reduced juvenile offences. They think it’s cool until shown reality.
People do things for the simple reason they don’t know there is an alternative. Making people aware of choice is paramount to assisting rehabilitation and reducing crime.
A responsible parent would know this raising a child, correcting them gently and firmly. When children are shown respect they give it back and so it should be as the parent/guardian is the model.
You are only as good as your environment and the one you choose to create.
We have limited monetary resources. Let’s hope in the future better educated parents given the support they need raise responsible youth. The jail system is over crowded, a burden to tax payers and doesn't solve the problem.