Courts and Reform at Juvenile Justice Agencies
http://thekojonnamdishow.org/shows/2010-07-13/courts-and-reform-juvenile-justice-agencies
The District's getting mixed messages this summer about its efforts to combat juvenile crime. A new report by a court-appointed monitor credits the city's Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) with a "remarkable" turnaround in how it educates youths in detention. But high-profile crimes continue to fuel public anger towards DYRS and broader reforms. We examine the stakes, and explore why a 25-year old court case still influences the process.
Guests
Marc Schindler
Interim Director, Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS), District of Columbia
Comments
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I was one of the fortunate kids in San Diego juvenile hall who was sent to a twenty-four hour school for two and a half years. The staff at the school were very compassionate and respectful, but also firm. I learned boundaries, leadership and self respect and I learned to look at how my choices and behavior affected other people. When I left the school at the age of 17, I went on to finish high school and eventually got a graduate degree.
I do not believe I would have grown to be a contributing member of society had I been imprisoned, as was one of the options the judge for my case could have chosen. Most of my friends during that time are either now dead, struggling with addiction and/or abuse and one is on death row. None of those old friends received rehabilitation.
I am grateful to this day for the opportunity I had to get out of the life I was living, and that the staff at the school were willing and able to give me the tools I needed to get myself out.
Mr. Myers quoted me a few minutes ago, and I'm writing to underscore the points he made. The danger of maintaining secrecy in the delinquency system and child welfare system is that the ADULTS are not accountable. If you're comfortable with the answer "just trust us" when the government is responsible for children's welfare, secrecy is for you.
Because court hearings and court records are sealed off, we can't tell whether children get the help they need from the city agencies or the judges or lawyers involved in their cases. Secrecy means that if you are concerned that there is some sort of "juvenile crime wave" -- you can't even figure out whether there really is one, and if there is, how the government is dealing with it.
Bill said how is not knowing about a kid who's a criminal help the public?
I have the opposite question, how is knowing about a kid who's a criminal help?
I live in a transitional neighborhood and I've seen drug deals we all know who the drug dealers are, we may not know what crimes some of the kids have committed but we know to be wary. If I also knew that one of them killed someone what would that mean - now what, am I going to move and buy a new house? buy a gun? call the police?
My hands are tied now and I DO know, so no, I don't agree with releasing child records, or see the benefit.