We could all learn a lesson... (Young Offenders - What Should The Law Do With Them?)

Member Name: leviathan

Product:	Young Offenders - What Should The Law Do With Them?
Date:	01/11/00 (27 review reads)
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A year after the horrific murder of James Bulger, a five year old girl was beaten senseless and left in the snow to freeze to death..Her two killers were just six years old..And had been playmates of their victim..
This happened in a small Town in Norway that had never seen the murder of child before..And they way this vile act was handled by the family of the girl, and the authorities provides a lesson for us all.(Report in the Guardian Monday Oct29).
We might be stunned by the victims mother stating she had forgiven the two little boys who had murdered her child..But reading her words I began to feel ashamed of the way the great british public, myself included, had reacted to the news that Thompson and Venables may be released on license next year.Because it reminded me that however shocking their crime, they were only children when they committed the dreadful acts..
Children are capable of great cruelty, ask any who were bullied, or abused at school by their contempories..And often those who bully, have learned such behaviour by being bullied, or abused at home..
I make that point, as in an area where I used to live we had major problems with
'young offenders'. Theft,vandalism,joy-riding
general nuisance, and intimidation..The offenders all well known, their victims far to often the elderly or very young..And every young offender had parents who could have cared less....And I mean cared less...
So if we are debating " How should we deal with Young Offenders" perhaps we should start with their parents....Deal with the problem at its root cause.For to my mind these 'parents' are as guilty if not more so than their offspring. Guilty of lacking a sense of responsibility, neglect of duty, abuse, or plain indifference..And we as a society are guilty of letting them get away with it..

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