Should 10 & 11 year olds be charged?

[AKA_Monet]

I guess I am the only one who does not feel like putting these kids into an institution. If they were older, perhaps. But any child under the age of 12 who physically assaults other children--outside of the "meet me at 3 o'clock behind the tether balls"... Juvie, is not going to help with recidivism, in my opinion.

An ass whoopin' by a parent will... If the intent was to steal money or beat the crap out of little Joey, because he's weak, and little Joey, stood up for himself, and kicked other dude's butt, then good for him. But, it still will be punitive damages at home.

I hate physically fighting. It does nothing for you and there will always be bullies. That is how people are in this world.

But having a penal system mentality will not stop certain negative behaviors.

Now if there were guns or knives involved, yeah, someone needs to beat their natural behinds within an inch of their lives.

[shinerbock]

Originally Posted by AKA_Monet

I guess I am the only one who does not feel like putting these kids into an institution. If they were older, perhaps. But any child under the age of 12 who physically assaults other children--outside of the "meet me at 3 o'clock behind the tether balls"... Juvie, is not going to help with recidivism, in my opinion.

Yeah I think it depends on the kid. If it were me, a pretty good kid mixed up in the wrong crowd who did something incredibly stupid, then time in a detention center probably would have scared me and been helpful. However, if these are kids prone to such behavior who are from detached or downright terrible parents, it may just reinforce that they're going to live a life like this.

Kids who do things that are so depraved have to know punishment, but if they're from a place where this is part of growing up, it won't help.

[Munchkin03]

What a bunch of little animals!

I don't know how I feel about juvie, either. If they're there for any considerable period of time, they could come out being WORSE, since they're around a bunch of other bad-ass little kids who know the system in and out, and could teach them all sorts of crazy things.

How can you reform a kid like that, anyway?

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

What a bunch of little animals!

I don't know how I feel about juvie, either. If they're there for any considerable period of time, they could come out being WORSE, since they're around a bunch of other bad-ass little kids who know the system in and out, and could teach them all sorts of crazy things.

How can you reform a kid like that, anyway?

I wonder this too, but I hope that they can be. Sometime though I think that some kids are just pretty much wired wrong from the get-go. A lot of creepy serial killer types showed abusing behavior when they were really young.

And I think those who are suggesting that parental punishment is the answer may be a little optimistic about what the parental authorities are like in cases where the kids are this out of control this early.

Do you suppose that you go from peaceful well-adjusted kid to stomping kids to the point of hospitalization overnight? If effective parental response was coming, I think they would have already gotten it.

[epchick]

Originally Posted by UGAalum94

And I think those who are suggesting that parental punishment is the answer may be a little optimistic about what the parental authorities are like in cases where the kids are this out of control this early.

Do you suppose that you go from peaceful well-adjusted kid to stomping kids to the point of hospitalization overnight? If effective parental response was coming, I think they would have already gotten it.

See this is why I said they should go to juvie (or something similar). I think if they charge the girls as delinquents, i think the consequence is harsh (keeping them in juvie til they are 21), but give them a week, a month in juvie and I think it will straighten these girls out.

Even if these girls hadn't been in trouble (like this) before, doesn't mean they couldn't have been terrorizing other kids. That age is VERY prone to bullying.

But its the parents responses that get me---its like their child is some angel that can do no wrong. There has to be some consequence. If you leave it up to the parents or the school, then nothing will be done.

I really believe that if it took pretty much nothing for these girls to attack, then they could easily attack again!

[AKA_Monet]

Originally Posted by UGAalum94

Do you suppose that you go from peaceful well-adjusted kid to stomping kids to the point of hospitalization overnight? If effective parental response was coming, I think they would have already gotten it.

Firstly, I don't think any kid doing such things as these have never been well-adjusted or have never known peace. And it is a wide fluctuation of bipolar psychosis for adjustment to lunacy--in my opinion.

A 10 year old do not have discernment yet. Discernment happens with a combination of age, biology (genetics), education and life-experience. Obviously, a 10 year old does not have the life-experience, education or age to really know the consequences of his or her actions.

Is there a cutoff point? Probably not until 18-20 years old. I don't know? However, it is still formative years for until ~25-28 years old. That is why it is tough when we have kids having babies at 10/11 years old or kids committing crimes with lethal weapons. How do we as a society monitor that?

Originally Posted by epchick

See this is why I said they should go to juvie (or something similar). I think if they charge the girls as delinquents, i think the consequence is harsh (keeping them in juvie til they are 21), but give them a week, a month in juvie and I think it will straighten these girls out.

Even if these girls hadn't been in trouble (like this) before, doesn't mean they couldn't have been terrorizing other kids. That age is VERY prone to bullying.

But its the parents responses that get me---its like their child is some angel that can do no wrong. There has to be some consequence. If you leave it up to the parents or the school, then nothing will be done.

I really believe that if it took pretty much nothing for these girls to attack, then they could easily attack again!

Formal penal institutions are not stopping our crimes. And it sounds like the military does not want these kind of people either.

The issue is economic in nature. There is more upfront costs to solve this issue civilly, than to do the quick fix in throwing in a penal code institution. The penal code institution costs more in the long run and does not solve your problem that the civil action upfront costs and longterm avenue.

Longterm means going to group everyday of the week except Sunday, having check in with a licensed mental health worker and probation officers, etc. Nutritionists, physical evaluations with MRI for brain deformities and possible psychotropic drug treatments.

I do think there is possibly a loss in B-complex vitamins during pregnancy and post-natal care. I could be wrong.

[epchick]

Originally Posted by AKA_Monet

A 10 year old do not have discernment yet. Discernment happens with a combination of age, biology (genetics), education and life-experience. Obviously, a 10 year old does not have the life-experience, education or age to really know the consequences of his or her actions.

I'm sorry, i think this complete crap. I got suspended in 6th grade for fighting--I was 11. I knew that there was consequences for my actions, to say that a 10/11 year old wouldn't understand is either underestimating a child, or bad parenting. Sure a 10 year old who hasn't ever been punished in their life wouldn't know the difference between right and wrong. But i've asked my 12 & 13 year old cousins about this, and their response---"put them in jail!"

But when something this wrong happens, i'm sorry, there should be consequences whether the child understands or not.

And I think if the parents don't do anything, something should be done for that as well.