Mom forgives her daughter’s killer

By |

The mother of a murder victim delivers a powerful message about restorative justice in The Washington Post. Linda White lost her daughter in a murder that made headlines in Texas back in 1986.  Two 15 year old boys kidnapped, raped and killed Cathy White when she stopped to help them with car trouble. Last month, after 23 years behind bars, one of the killers was released from prison. While most parents of murder victims would be consumed with anger, Linda is not.  Ten years ago she met Gary Brown and befriended the man responsible for her daughter’s death.  Linda White writes about her journey and her belief that “young people, even those who have done horrible things, can be transformed.”

The case is also profiled in a book called Don’t Kill in Our Names, by Rachel King.

Isolation, hogties, handcuffs and Velcro

By |

By Ken Watts

Their voices cracked with emotion as they recalled a devastating loss. Don and Tina King's 13-year old son Jonathan hanged himself after a teacher locked him in a windowless 8X8 closet called a "seclusion room." Jonathan was a student in the Alpine Program, a public school in Gainesville, Ga. for students with emotional and behavioral problems.  A few weeks before his death in 2004, Jonathan told his parents that teachers had put him in "time out." "After he died, we found out that Jonathan wasn't in there for minutes," Don King said.

Teen summit on internet safety

By |

America’s Most Wanted host John Walsh will host the National Teen Summit on Internet Safety, June 15 in Washington D.C.  Atlanta social media expert James Andrews will join Walsh to meet with teens from across the country.  They’ll be talking about cyberbullying, sexting and the impact of social media on digital reputation. Cox Communications, based in Atlanta, sponsors the annual event with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.  Cox will stream the Summit live online starting at 9:30am.  Here’s how to watch the event and join in the conversation:

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/coxteensummit

Experts will field questions from twitter hash tag:  #cox4teensafety

A new survey shows 50 percent of teens have posted a fake age online and 38 percent have used social media to befriend people they don’t know. Click here for more information

James Andrews is co-founder of Everywhere, specializing in social media strategies.  Jane Fonda calls him her social media maestro. He orchestrated the live stream of World Fitness Day in May. John Walsh has hosted America's Most Wanted for 22 years.  He became a crime expert and child safety advocate after his own son, Adam Walsh, was kidnapped and murdered in Florida in 1981.  He lobbied for the  Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act in 2006, which created a national sex offender registry.

1 Million Children Detained

By |

More than 1 million children are detained through justice systems worldwide at any one time, although this is likely to be a significant underestimate given the difficulties in obtaining data about the many unreported children in custody. Not only are data collected inconsistently, they often do not include children awaiting trial, young children detained with their parents or children held temporarily by the police. Among 44 countries for which data were available, around 59 per cent of children in detention had not been sentenced. The vast majority of children in detention have not committed serious offenses. Many are only charged with status offenses, such as running away from home, violation of child-related curfews, truancy or alcohol use.

Child porn, sexting and online crimes

By |

On June 16, 2010, at 2 p.m. E.T., the Office of Justice Programs’ Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) will host a Web Forum on preventing child victimization using high tech devices, including the internet and cell phones.  The session is expected to cover topics such as child pornography, sexting and cyber bullying. 

The 1-hour session, which is cosponsored by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, will be led by Laurie Nathan, who manages national outreach and partnerships for the NetSmartz Workshop, an educational program of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.    For further information and instructions on how to participate, visit the OVC Web Forum

–Photo courtesy of  www.flickr.com/photos/angelshupe

/

Detention education reform report

By |

Children in the juvenile justice system are more likely to have learning disabilities and behavior disorders, according to researchers at Georgetown University’s Center for Juvenile Justice Reform.  They reviewed state programs to educate these children and found that agencies often don’t work together. As a result, there is “duplication, fragmentation and the diffusion of responsibility” that prevents kids in the system from getting the education they need to be successful when they get out.   Some conclusions of their study:

Early education is essential. Quality education services are critical for successful
development of all youth. If outcomes matter, they must be measured. Support services are needed to help some youth
succeed.

States closing youth prisons

By |

Juvenile arrest rates dropped 33% over ten years, according to latest stats from the U. S. Department of Justice.  The Associated Press also reports that more states are pushing for treatment rather than prison for troubled children.  Add all have serious budget problems.   All this means reformatories, or juvenile detention centers are getting shut down across the country.  Even Georgia closed down the Bill Ireland Youth Development Center in Milledgeville last year.

New ban on texting while driving

By |

New laws targeting teens and distracted driving go into effect July 1.  No more texting behind the wheel.  Teens with provisional licenses can’t use a cell phone at all. Governor Perdue signed SB 360, better known as "Caleb’s Law", Friday, despite reservations about how it’s going to be enforced.  And the law isn’t just for teens.  Police will be on the lookout for any driver reading, writing or sending emails. SB360 is named after a Dahlonega teen who crashed and died while texting and driving last December. WSAV reports teen drivers caught texting or talking on the phone face a $150 fine, which doubles if they have an accident.   Despite reservations about how “Caleb’s Law” will be enforced, Gov. Perdue states in a press release that “We need to do everything possible to focus young drivers on the road ahead.” The Atlanta Journal Constitution says the legislature plans to revisit the texting law next year to clarify parts of it.

Prescription drug abuse tops teen risk list

By |

More than 20% of high school students are using prescription drugs illegally.  The CDC’s National Youth Risk Behavior Survey polled more than 16,000 teens and found alarming abuse of drugs such as Ritalin, Xanax and Oxycontin.  WebMD also reports on teen drinking trends, risky dieting habits like fasting and vomiting, and seat belt use.

Crime victim advocate is unsung hero

By |

The new Crime Victims’ Bill of Rights expands the role of victims in juvenile court proceedings across the state, from victim impact testimony to restitution.  Even with expanded rights, many crime victims need help getting through the process.  They get that help from advocates like Virginia Gallemore, who works in the Bibb County District Attorney’s Office.  Her job is to help victims understand their rights, help them with paperwork, find counseling, and hold their hands through difficult hearings.  The Macon Telegraph profiles Gallemore and the role of these advocates.