Many of the children in the prison system that I've had the priveledge to communicate with, often tell me of how they really feel from day to day, often crying themselves to sleep, feeling so abandoned, some of them, families do not communicate with, or visit, no letters, no money for commissary, absolutely nothing. Many of them feel as if they have been totally abandoned by society, and officials, feeling as if they have been thrown away by those who mean the most to them. I will continue to communicate with them, encouraging them, supporting them to instill in their minds, that they are not forgotten, that there are people who DO care about them, and advocates are fighting for them every day, and for Juvenile Law Reform. I am told of countless unspeakable things that are happening to many of them daily, in the form of different abuses, many times because the staff can, usually get away with it, for if the child inmate complains, it usually comes back on them, much harder and much, much more severe. Where is the compassion? Many of them are treated as sub-human. Many complaints about the horrible food, the lack of nutrition, and balanced meals. Many of these kids are severely "underweight" for their body structure, yet when you go to many of the state online websites, the public is lead to believe that rehabilitation and school is present, but many of the children will tell you differently. One recently told me in a letter "we only go to school for an hour and a half per day. Homework is expected to be completed, yet when we have questions, or don't understand, no one is there to help us, and we have to figure it out by ourselves, or forget about it." Another child asked for reading material, so he would have something constructive to do. The center will not allow me to send him any periodicals.
The public is mislead, but the children who are living it, each and every day, know the real truth, what happens daily. what is available to them, and what is not.
Does This Bother You? Read The Truth. Get Informed, Get Involved!
This page is for many other children who are currently incarcerated. Those who gave confessions under the same conditions that Djinn did. No attorney present. No family. Just interrogators who are usually confrontational and accusatory. There has to be a reason why they don't want an attorney present during questioning. They know that they can't intimidate an attorney, but they can a child!
There are countless numbers of children not only here in the United States, but also abroad, who are incarcerated, that have been, or are being charged as adults. Some as young as 8 years old. Our children deserve better, our children deserve and should be treated as the children they are, not as adults.
The adult prison system is geared more towards punishment, than it is rehabilitation. The Juvenile system, is geared towards rehabilitation, not punishment. Shouldn't we give a child every opportunity at rehabilitation, and the help they need?
Shouldn't we place a child who commits a crime where he can receive everything available to turn his or her lives around?
You can't smoke, drink, legally sign a document, or are treated as an adult until you reach a certain age. So why does our Justice sytem continue to charge and convict many youngsters as adult?
There is a huge myth out there in the public, that many believe, and it is; Getting tough with juvenile offenders, by trying them in adult criminal court, reduces the likelihood that they will commit more crimes. When in fact youths transferred to adult criminal court have a significantly higer rate of re-offending and greater liklihood of committing subsequent felonies than youths who remain in the juvenile justice system. They are also more likely to be victimized, physically and sexually.
Would You Want That To Happen, Or Even a Chance Of It?
Our voices matter, and it's up to us to speak loud and clear to prosecutors, and tell them that we don't subscribe to the notion, that children be tried as adults.
Does This Bother You?
It's Up To You!
Get Informed, Get Involved......It's Up To You!
Below are links, to several cases that are in the public view right now. We have the opportunity, to make a positive difference in their lives. Please send me an email, and I will send you information on how you can.
Blade Reed: Blade is a close, personal friend of mine, and I am very proud to call him that. He was sentenced to 30 years in December of 2009. He is currently in maximum security, at the Wabash Valley Correctional Facility, in Carlisle, Indiana. Blade is only 14 years of age. For background on his case Click Here.
Some friends of mine, and I, authored a petition to aid Blade. To see or to sign the petition please Click Here
Jordan Brown: It appears that the Supreme Court in Pennsylvania, will have to decide Jordan's future. I pray that sanity will prevail, and that they decide that Jordan should be tried as the Juvenile he is. If he is not, and they decide that he will be tried as an adult, and found guilty, it will be an automatic life sentence, due to Pennsylvania law. For information on his case Click Here. To contribute to Jordan's fund Click Here. Jordan is only 12 Years of age.
Denver Jarvis: Denver was part of the clan that set Michael Brewer on fire back on October 12, 2009, in Deerfield Beach, Florida. If Denver is found guilty, he will be sentenced from 25 years up. For background information on Denver's case, Click Here. Denver had a tumultuous childhood, and none of that has been considered. He deserves leniency, and I pray that he will receive it from the court. Denver is only 15 years of age.
Warren Williams: Warren is another child in Florida, who could be sentenced to life, if convicted. For background on Warren's case, Click Here. Warren is only 14 years of age.
Colt Lundy: Due to Indiana law, anyone 10 years of age, and older, can be tried as an adult, if the charge is murder. Colt is accused in the shooting death of his stepfather. For background on Colt's case, Click Here. If Colt is convicted of this, he would be sentenced to 45 to 65 years in prison. All to be served in the adult system. Colt is a child, once again, not an adult, he deserves the best we can give him. Not to be thrown away for the rest of his life for one mistake. When will prosecutors realize that kids are just that, kids, and should be treated as the kids that they are. Colt is only 15 years of age.
Paul Gingerich: Paul was an accomplice to the above alleged case of Colt Lundy, and was present during the incident. For more information Click Here. As with Colt Lundy, if Paul is convicted, he would be sentenced from 45 to 65 years in prison. Paul is only 12 years of age.
Harsh, rigid sentencing makes no sense when it comes to child offenders. In many respects, our society is more interested in punishing wrongdoing than correcting it. Nowhere is this more obvious than in how we deal with juveniles who commit violent crimes. An ever growing body of scientific evidence argues powerfully against such harsh punishment of Juveniles, whose brain function is not yet mature. Yes, they know right from wrong. But their ability to reason, understand the consequences of their actions, and control their impulses is not yet fully developed. Children do not possess the ability to reason as adults, and by the very nature of their age are at risk of being incompetent to stand trial. Experts say the whole porpose of the Juvenile Justice system, is to take into consideration the deep psychological differences between adolescents and adults regardless of the nature of the crime. According to Lawrence Steinberg, a developmental psychologist at Temple University and head of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Research Network on Adolescent Development and Juvenile Justice, the juvenile justice system is able to protect the community from dangerous youths and can offer resources for rehabilitation largely absent in the adult criminal justice system.
"I have met very few people who when they think about this seriously believe that they should be trying kids as adults," he said.
These issues take us to the edges of justice, where a one-size-fits-all legal system fits far less comfortably. This is the point where we decide if we are an optimistic society, or one that throws people away in the name of vengeance. In most states, we have an unbending system, ruled by the most hardened of emotions. There are countless children serving long, extremely harsh, outrageous adult prison sentences, for crimes committed before they could legally vote, sign contracts, or buy a beer. We are not talking about 16, 17, or 18 year olds, we are talking about children of 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 or 15 years of age. We don't think their old enough to participate legally in society, yet we are anxious to consider kids like this irredeemable. We as a society, decided these children had to be put away for 20, 30 40, 50 some for 60 years, or longer so they wouldn't act out again, even though there is substabtial data showing that kids are the least likely to re-offend.
I centainly have much empathy for the victims, not only in the above cases, but also in general, when a child is involved as the perpetrator. But something needs to be said about the emotional loss and dread that a 8,9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, or 15 copes with. Have we become so hardened, that we want salvageable children, to spend their formative years, surrounded by concrete, barbed wire, and repeat adult criminals, who will teach these kids, how to re-offend.
The most important thing is that we do not confuse the seriousness of the crime, with the maturity of the adolescent. Just because they commit a serious crime, doesn't magically turn them into an adult
We as a civilized society should rise above emotion. We should punish the offender if we must. But we should also recognize the humanity in everyone - although the offender failed to recognize it in his victim, and maybe even because we need to be better than that.
Get Informed! Get Involved!
