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| The question no one ever asks...
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Okay...this is just something I have to get off my chest, because more and more it is beginning to bug me.
There's this whole issue these days about youth crime in the UK, and yes, it has got out of hand (or maybe its just being reported more).
A 15yr old girl in Newcastle just got convicted of murdering an 18yr old girl in Wallsend, which is quite a rough area of Newcastle.
It's ignited fresh appeals for the government to toughen up its stance on youth crime - basically the consensus is...tougher sentences...lock them up, string them up, etc...
Now...I'm not saying they should get away with it any more than an adult would.
But is the answer really to lock them up and throw away the key? Is that really a solution?
To me what needs to be done -
Find out WHY they are committing these crimes. What makes a 15 yr old kill another girl? What makes a gang of lads, the youngest just 12, kick to death a 44 year old man in front of his family?
In my humble opinion, unless we as a society take the time to find out what has gone so badly wrong for todays young people, how can we ever expect things to change?
Just a thought....... |
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Posted by chebtastic1 on 2008-03-03 14:16:08 | Rating: | Views: 48
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It can boil down to poverty, child abuse, neglect, drug abuse, mental illness, 2 income families and no one at home supervising. Does the UK have our equivalent of residential/day treatment centers for abuse, addictions, mental illness, special ed problems and behavioral issues? They are usually private institutions, but the State provides $, as well. We don't do enough for youth, our teachers, social workers, and therapists who are underpaid and underappreciated. Just my thoughts...Peace.
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Posted by Ellie2008
on 2008-03-03 19:50:09
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The thing over here is, no one seems to notice the things you mentioned until the young person has committed a serious offence, and then it's like 'condemn them for life, they are evil scum...lets not waste time finding out why, lets just remove them and forget about them.'
The trouble now with teachers is that they have no real power...kids know, that if they tell them off, all they have to do is say they were assaulted, or cry rape and the law is on their side.
Social services over here needs some serious work. That's not to say there aren't some wonderful people working for them, but they have a reputation (earned i think) for getting it wrong on many occasions.
It's all down to how much money they government is willing to put into these things. You mentioned poverty. That's one of the main reasons I think. We have this gang culture over here that in the US you'll be familiar with. The trouble is Britain is a small island with alot of young people. There's alot of territorialism going on...gangs sort of have their own 'turf' and I think thats alot to do with ownership. Kids have died for passing an invisible turf boundary. They just need something to do, something they can say is theirs and kids from inner city areas and estates don't have that...
To use the example of London...there are the posh, high flying areas and then right next door there will be a run-down estate - high rise flats, buildings in disrepair, tantatmount to a ghetto. They look at these other people, in expensive cars, with expensive jewellery and there's no way they can have those things, because there's no one to help them into those areas...they are forgotten about. So they look and think...'I want that, I'm just gonna take it.'
People don't see the reason, they just see the crime, but I just think...unless people listen to young people and find out WHY they will never solve anything.
As you can tell, this is something I feel very passionate about...that's why I am hoping to have a career in youth work or youth justice.
Thanks for stopping by! Hope the leg is a bit better xxx
peace xxx
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Posted by chebtastic1
on 2008-03-04 03:53:43
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True enough, I hear you. I've been to London many times and studied there for a bit. We have this gang mentality here, as well, so dangerous and hurtful to the kids involved and the victims of their crimes.
As I write this comment, a very good friend has been sacked because of a kid's comments about him. There were witnesses, statements written, covered up lies, but it didn't matter. The kid's side was taken (it's a private institution, we wouldn't want anything to come between us and the almighty dollar...) and my friend was fired.
Disgusting...it's a huge problem, here too. You would be perfect in this field, perfect!
My leg is better, but spasming quite a bit when I'm on it for too long. I'm forcing myself to sit, smile. Love and hugs XXX
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Posted by Ellie2008
on 2008-03-06 17:41:50
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