As I look back on this year, I can't help but reflect on the changes and insights E. brought into my life. I was first introduced to E. about 18 months ago. I was a foster parent at the time, and he was/is the older brother of my now adopted daughter. He was 16 at the time, and was waiting sentencing on a theft charge, in addition to possession of marijuana charges. As a ward of the state, the powers that be thought he would be best served by spending time in a local boot camp program run by a division of youth corrections. It was a good program, and they reached out to me and his sister for family visits. It was my first introduction to the criminal justice system for juveniles, but wouldn't be my last.
After a few months there, it came time for his formal sentencing on his charges. The judge had empathy for him (he and his siblings were abused terribly by their biological parents), and he was allowed probation, and went to live in a group home in the community. That unfortunately, lasted less than two weeks. He got caught up in a fight near his high school, was afraid of getting arrested, and bolted. wasn't seen for 9 days, when he was finally found and, of course, re-arrested. From there, it was the local juvenile detention facility, a pretty grim place with grey walls, barbed wire fences, and little civilian clothing (just green or blue tops and pants).
From there it was a "residential treatment facility", but I never really saw much treatment happening. Seemed more of a place for kids to be parked when no one knew where else to send them.
He ended up getting kicked out of there (smoking weed in his room), and back to the local detention facility, where we visited him last Christmas day. From there, against all odds, the judge gave him one last chance, and he was placed in my home, on probation. Random UAs, mandatory schooling, in-home therapy, etc. He was here for 10 weeks, until finally, something happened that burned up all his chances, and he was committed, zero to two years.
For the first few months of that sentence, he was in the juvenile facility, and then moved to another "residential treatment facility". I must say, I was skeptical at first, given my experience of the other facility. But, lo and behold, I do believe he is finally getting the help he has needed for a long, long time. He seems to have been placed under the care of an incredibly gifted therapist, one who is both a hard-ass and compassionate at the same time. He is addressing his trauma, seeking justice from those who hurt him (under the guidance of his therapist) and making amends where he needs to.
For the first time in memory, I am hopeful that this young man, now 17, will finally move forward in a way that will allow his gifts (and they are many) to blossom in a way that we as a society will benefit.
I've been thinking of his situation, and comparing it to what juveniles in New York are experiencing on Riker's Island. What has worked for him? Well, one thing I can say for sure, is that helping these kids turn around their lives is a very labor-intensive process. It's also not something that happens overnight. Slamming them into a cell may take care of the problem short them, but it does nothing to address the underlying issues that got most of these kids into these situations to begin with. I hate to say it, but I think community involvement is also required. Whether it's even just a mentor, these kids need someone they can relate to and who will be there for them on the outside.
I can't help but hope that we find a way to allocate more resources to these kids. Surely it must be cheaper in the long run?