April 26, 2008
Chad wards hardened criminals, not kids
The Record is to be thanked for its coverage of juvenile justice ("Criminally stagnant," Monday).
Having worked in the Division of Juvenile Justice for more than 20 years as a youth correctional peace officer, it has been clear to me throughout my career that there are pro-ward advocates who do not fully understand the dynamics of what really goes on inside a youth correctional facility.
In the article, Prison Law Office attorney Sara Norman is quoted as referring to the young men confined at the N.A. Chaderjian Youth Correctional Facility as kids. Jakada Imani of Books Not Bars is quoted as describing them as young children. The wards at Chad and several other state youth correctional facilities are 18 and older. They are not kids or children…
LINK - RecordNet.com (Opinion)
