(MY REACTION TO THE SEPT. 8, 2009 REPORT)
I watched most of this show. At first, I also wondered if someone didn’t happen upon something innovative and perhaps actually helpful. Then I pondered everything I had seen and heard and realized, that as
usual, while these people probably have the best intentions, they don’t have a very good answer. What the are doing is somewhat of a reverse of the ‘Straight, Inc., Philosophy.’
Instead of blaming the kids for EVERYTHING, including the abuses they may have suffered at the hands of adults in their families, they sympathize with the child. Once the child has revealed “an incident from the past” (ie- dad sexually abused me; mom beat me, or whatever…) the counselor will say, “you didn’t deserve that, nobody deserves to be treated that way.”
But the new twist is that since the parents are NOT paying and the state is (paying the $50k per child)–They, now in turn, blame EVERYTHING ON THE PARENT. Now, if everything the child tells is true, this is fine. However, as those of us who have been there know…. You only have a chance of getting out of there when you “get honest” (they have a different phrase, but it means the same thing.. “Confessing something BIG enough to prove you are ready to change”) Usually, this means making something up that’s big enough to prove you are “coming clean” is the phrase I believe this Waverly Regional Youth Center uses.
The scenes played out like this: Kid finally “confesses.” State has an ‘obligation’ to report abuses on a child (unbeknownst to the child.) Parents are reported and brought up on charges. Often, the parent denies this abuse took place, even after they are arrested. The parents also may or may not be telling the truth… However, there is at least a 50% chance the parent really didn’t commit whatever crime the child has ’shared.’ (This can be explained further under the topic of ‘False Memories’ and ‘Group Think’ and ‘Brainwashing’) In this particular report, there were two cases where the parent vehemently denied the charges. The consequences for the child were that the parents were so angry or upset or offended (or whatever) that they now would not come to see or talk to the child. They couldn’t understand why the child was telling these “stories.” So now the child is still left with a completely destroyed (at least for a temporary amount of time) family and yet the counselors “are always there for them.”
This is just one example of what is wrong with this particular residential program. This example has been used to show a new twist on an old flawed philosophy. The new philosophy is just as flawed.
To add t0 the problematic philosophy, there are too many questions and not enough answers/information about the the program itself. To name a few for example:
- Is this program run by state? Or is it privately run and simply has a contract with the state?
- If it is privately run, why has their business been administratively dissolved as of a few years ago?
- Who are the people who call themselves counselors and what are their credentials?
- How is today’s Waverly Regional Youth Center different from yesterday’s Waverly Regional Youth Center where there are some negative reports?
- The children are usually court ordered to the program indefinitely…. which means that they are there until “staff” deems them ready to return to the real world. Why aren’t adult murderers ever court ordered to prison indefinitely or until staff deems them ready to return. Why are juvenile sentences so much more psychologically harsh than the hardened criminals’?
- And that caveat, brings me back to # 3 who are these staff members who can decide the fate of whether a child remains internationalized or not? At least accused prisoners go to a 3rd party parole board to ask for parole, they don’t have to ask the guards–because that would not be proper justice. So why aren’t juveniles able to enjoy the same unbiasedness when it comes to their releases.
These situations are simply a disaster waiting to happen. Those are just a few of the initial questions I have and there are plenty more.
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Juvenile sentences are indefinite because their is a goal for their treatment program TO REHABILITATE THEM. This falls back to the whole Rehab V. Punishment debate. Adult’s get a sentence, sit in jail and serve it out and then get released. The goal Of juvenile treatment is to insure that the juvenile is rehabilitated and does not re-offend. Hence the purpose of an indefinite sentence. If you were to give a kid 6 months for stealing a car, or 5 years for rape, or whatever this might not be an appropriate amount of time to properly ensure the juvenile has gone through their rehabilitation program.
The reason for a more rigid psychological program in juveniles is because there is a greater chance for them to change. Once an adult, the offense cycle has happened so many tiems in their life that change is alot harder. Adult murders are given indefinite sentences, its called life in prison. It is 10 times harder to rehabilitate an adult then it is to help rehab a juvenile.
The reason why Juveniles do not see a 3rd party parole board is because you have to be qualified in order to properly evaluate rehabilitation. You can’t simply send these children in front of a board that does not understand their case and expect them to have a fair ruling. The chance for parole would definitely put a child in a situation where they tell you what you want to hear so they can get out. If an indefinite sentence is imposed a child is more likely to respond to the rehab.
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