Suffer the children....
Is it just me or does everyone think we need to re-evaluate the way we deal with teenage offenders?
A fourteen year old boy appeared in Maroochydore Magistrates court yesterday, pleading guilty to involvement, last month, in the bashing of a 61 year old man.
The boy was given 80 hours community service and placed on probation for 12 months. No conviction was recorded, the magistrate expressed concern for the fact the boy had shown little remorse for his actions.
I think we’re all familiar with this story. A group of teenagers was told to get off a concrete fence on Kawana Island…they were rude to the woman who told them to get off the fence and she and her husband chased them in a vehicle demanding to know the boys names …a dispute ensued and punches were thrown.
A little while later, the boys returned to the house on Kawana Island – reportedly driven there by the father of one of the boys. The fourteen year old, in court yesterday, first bashed on the front door, then smashed the lights on the couples vehicle. When the 61 year old home owner came out to investigate he was hit in the head, chest and ankle with the pick handle and has been unable to return to work since.
I know a lot of people will 80 hours of community service to be an inadequate sentence….I’m not sure…I just wish we were a little more creative with how that community service time is spent.
I don’t think it’s a big leap to suggest what this child needs more than anything is someone to teach him respect…respect for peoples property, respect for their safety, respect for authority and most of all, respect for himself.
I wonder if there are any decent male role models in this child’s life?
The idiot who drove those boys to Kawana Island armed with axe handles does not count. I don’t care what his relationship is to the boys….he is a fool and should play no further part in their life.
But imagine 80 hours spent In the company of the victim…80 hours in his shed, in his garden, fishing together, working on cars, whatever you like…80 hours sitting watching tv together if they have to…80 hours getting to know this guy…
Regardless of what this child has done, he is too young to be put on the scrap heap
A fourteen year old boy appeared in Maroochydore Magistrates court yesterday, pleading guilty to involvement, last month, in the bashing of a 61 year old man.
The boy was given 80 hours community service and placed on probation for 12 months. No conviction was recorded, the magistrate expressed concern for the fact the boy had shown little remorse for his actions.
I think we’re all familiar with this story. A group of teenagers was told to get off a concrete fence on Kawana Island…they were rude to the woman who told them to get off the fence and she and her husband chased them in a vehicle demanding to know the boys names …a dispute ensued and punches were thrown.
A little while later, the boys returned to the house on Kawana Island – reportedly driven there by the father of one of the boys. The fourteen year old, in court yesterday, first bashed on the front door, then smashed the lights on the couples vehicle. When the 61 year old home owner came out to investigate he was hit in the head, chest and ankle with the pick handle and has been unable to return to work since.
I know a lot of people will 80 hours of community service to be an inadequate sentence….I’m not sure…I just wish we were a little more creative with how that community service time is spent.
I don’t think it’s a big leap to suggest what this child needs more than anything is someone to teach him respect…respect for peoples property, respect for their safety, respect for authority and most of all, respect for himself.
I wonder if there are any decent male role models in this child’s life?
The idiot who drove those boys to Kawana Island armed with axe handles does not count. I don’t care what his relationship is to the boys….he is a fool and should play no further part in their life.
But imagine 80 hours spent In the company of the victim…80 hours in his shed, in his garden, fishing together, working on cars, whatever you like…80 hours sitting watching tv together if they have to…80 hours getting to know this guy…
Regardless of what this child has done, he is too young to be put on the scrap heap
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