Charges weren’t in order

It’s outrageous that the police have asked our overburdened courts to deliver a dose of morality to a young man who, apparently, doesn’t know it’s wrong to post a video depicting two girls fighting to his Facebook page.

Particularly when the Youth Criminal Justice Act says such cases should be dealt with outside of the courts. The law requires police officers to consider the use of extrajudicial measures before charging a young person. Police and prosecutors are specifically authorized to issue warnings and refer young persons to community programs or agencies that may help them not to commit offences. That includes counselling.

The Tomken Road Middle School student is alleged to have recorded (and posted) a cellphone video of a scrap between two classmates.
The boy was called to the school’s office two days later. He was arrested, handcuffed and taken from the building to a police cruiser as other students looked on.

The boy has since been suspended for a month and will be transferred to another school. Mom says her son is “scarred for life” over the arrest.

It’s hard to feel sorry for him. Posting that video, if he did it, was a reprehensible act. But, in some ways, the accused is a victim in this case.

His mother is outraged over his arrest, but she fails to acknowledge that it was her responsibility to instill in her son a sense of empathy for victims of violence and a moral obligation to protect them.

School board officials did the right thing by calling police. But filing a criminal charge against a pre-teen who made a stupid decision because he wasn’t equipped to do any better is killing a fly with a hammer.

Suspend him from school. That action, in tandem with counselling mandated by the police or prosecutor, is the most effective way to handle the situation.

The long-term goal is to fix the child — and that can’t be done by hauling the offender in front of a judge.

Comments by others - 6 - to this web-page at time of posting;

Tony Jackson Jan 5, 2013 10:57 AM

The responsibility of the News Paper

Is it just report and debate what happened,Or should it be part of the solution. Say, why didn't you give a call to the (new) Chief of Police and ask her position on these kind of "out of order" issues. It appears that someone has made a wrong shot here - the school staff, the police or the parents of the girls. Please go and knock their doors.

Disagree 1

zdotb Jan 4, 2013 3:58 PM

Perhaps poor taste, probably against school policies, but how is posting this "fight" video a crime?

Agree 1 Disagree 1

Mantis Jan 3, 2013 2:40 PM

@goonkist

Exactly. If the fight wasnt a crime then why was filming it?

Agree 2

goonkist Jan 3, 2013 2:07 PM

@BlueRobbin

Use a 13yo as an example???? Its not like he is a young adult where he would of known better, 13yo's have been known to be immature ever since the dawn of time, anyone of expecting them to step in a stop the fight is flat out stupid. This is more like killing a fly with a machine gun not a hammer. The kid shouldn't even receive a punishment especially if those in the fight didn't receive one.

Disagree 1

BlueRobbin Jan 2, 2013 10:08 PM

" Now he does.

Back ground coward - this indavidual along with all the other coward spectators are not a total waste they can be used as a bad example

Agree 1 Disagree 1

Mantis Jan 2, 2013 9:28 PM

Better Yet

Better idea....don't call the police, don't suspend the kid....punish him in school in some way - a month of detentions, kick him off a school team. Involving the police is extremely heavy-handed and is the product of "zero-tolerance" and the fact that it has replaced common sense in schools.

Agree 2 Disagree 1

Home Page - Main Table of Contents - Back up a page - Back to Top

[COMMENTS BY DON B. - ]

Your Financial Donations are Greatly Appreciated
and Very Much Needed to Ensure the Survival of
THE DEMOCRATIC REPORTER

The
Donald Barber Defense Fund
Needs help right now
&
Now Accepting Pay Pal.

• Home Page • Main Table of Contents •

Back to Top

• About This Web-Site & Contact Info •