MODEST PROPOSAL : On Juveniles and Justice

It’s been more than a year since my car was stolen from in front of my house. My car was recovered about a week later and a suspect named, though not arrested.

The accused was 14 years old and a gang member. The mother and teacher in me was concerned: “He’s so young. Aren’t there diversion programs? I just want my deductible back; can he work for it?” The district attorney’s representative replied: “A 14-year-old gang member who’s stealing cars is way beyond our help.”

Later, the suspect was caught and I was subpoenaed to juvenile court. As I watched this youth struggle down the hallway on a cane due to an injury unrelated to my car theft, walking with the uncertainty of a 100-year-old man, with his shaved head, tattoos on his forearm and gang attire, I understood that this kid was truly lost.

Other young men were standing in the hallway awaiting their turn with the system. Some still had that sweet, round baby face of a young man before puberty. Some had parents with them. These kids gave me more hope, but not much.

Where do they go from here? Why don’t the halls of justice have mini-classes where the hours of waiting could be spent exploring the possibility of returning to school? Why not have representatives from agencies--including the nearest adult school, job training program and the Employment Development Department--on hand? Do these youngsters and their families know that programs like these exist and how to access them?

Yes, these youths should be punished and pay for their errors. But they must also be given opportunities at every juncture of the system if there is to be any hope of molding these young men and women into responsible, hard-working, participating members of the community.