Juvenile Delinquency
Notes:
youth crime is down
polarize
young offenders
lock up
custody ever does any good
welfare of prisoners
one of the test by which we may be juged is whether we showed any interest in those imprisoned
newsworthy
mayhem
a useful and decent memeber of the society
thankless and unappreciated
chaotic home life
elicit simpathy
According to recent reports, youth crime is down and the number of young people in custody is falling. Yet nothing polarises public opinion quite like juvenile crime. Some say of young offenders "lock them up and throw away the key". Others, "we shouldn't lock up children at all". Whatever our opinion, we should at least ask whether custody ever does any good.
The New Testament makes both the welfare of prisoners and the welfare of children a concern. According to Jesus, one of the tests by which we may be judged is whether we showed any interest in those imprisoned. And by once setting a child in the midst, Jesus deliberately made children visible in a culture where they went unnoticed; and made their wellbeing central.
So does good ever come from locking up children? We tend to hear the negatives - because we need to know when things go wrong, to put them right. And they are more newsworthy. "All going well in secure children's home" is not as interesting as a riot.
But recently I was shown a letter sent to the governor of a young offenders' institution by the grandmother of a former inmate. The grandmother wrote this:
"I would like to thank yourself and the staff... for the care and attention shown to my grandson. When he first came under your care he was a kid heading for a life of crime and mayhem. Since his time with (you) he has turned into a young man to be proud of, who has been given some excellent grounding on the way to become a useful and decent member of society. Thank you ... for all the good work."
The prison officers were probably astonished to get that letter. Their job often seems thankless and unappreciated. But it is not difficult to see how they can make a difference. For a young person who has only ever known a chaotic home life, they can provide, for a time, structure, boundaries, proper meals, education. For those whose only experience of adults has been loveless or harsh, they can start to build trust again through their care.
Over the next few weeks, many of us will find ourselves singing again the Christmas story and reflecting not only on the holy child but on childhood and the needs of all children. That ought to elicit some sympathy for those young offenders whose early experiences have often been as troubled as they are now troublesome. We should still be tough on crime, sending clear signals about what is unacceptable behaviour. That is one way we take young people seriously and help them mature.
But whether we are at the "lock them up" or "don't lock them up" end of the spectrum, we all have an interest in ensuring that a young person leaves custody changed for the better rather than confirmed in the worst.
youth crime is down
polarize
young offenders
lock up
custody ever does any good
welfare of prisoners
one of the test by which we may be juged is whether we showed any interest in those imprisoned
newsworthy
mayhem
a useful and decent memeber of the society
thankless and unappreciated
chaotic home life
elicit simpathy
According to recent reports, youth crime is down and the number of young people in custody is falling. Yet nothing polarises public opinion quite like juvenile crime. Some say of young offenders "lock them up and throw away the key". Others, "we shouldn't lock up children at all". Whatever our opinion, we should at least ask whether custody ever does any good.
The New Testament makes both the welfare of prisoners and the welfare of children a concern. According to Jesus, one of the tests by which we may be judged is whether we showed any interest in those imprisoned. And by once setting a child in the midst, Jesus deliberately made children visible in a culture where they went unnoticed; and made their wellbeing central.
So does good ever come from locking up children? We tend to hear the negatives - because we need to know when things go wrong, to put them right. And they are more newsworthy. "All going well in secure children's home" is not as interesting as a riot.
But recently I was shown a letter sent to the governor of a young offenders' institution by the grandmother of a former inmate. The grandmother wrote this:
"I would like to thank yourself and the staff... for the care and attention shown to my grandson. When he first came under your care he was a kid heading for a life of crime and mayhem. Since his time with (you) he has turned into a young man to be proud of, who has been given some excellent grounding on the way to become a useful and decent member of society. Thank you ... for all the good work."
The prison officers were probably astonished to get that letter. Their job often seems thankless and unappreciated. But it is not difficult to see how they can make a difference. For a young person who has only ever known a chaotic home life, they can provide, for a time, structure, boundaries, proper meals, education. For those whose only experience of adults has been loveless or harsh, they can start to build trust again through their care.
Over the next few weeks, many of us will find ourselves singing again the Christmas story and reflecting not only on the holy child but on childhood and the needs of all children. That ought to elicit some sympathy for those young offenders whose early experiences have often been as troubled as they are now troublesome. We should still be tough on crime, sending clear signals about what is unacceptable behaviour. That is one way we take young people seriously and help them mature.
But whether we are at the "lock them up" or "don't lock them up" end of the spectrum, we all have an interest in ensuring that a young person leaves custody changed for the better rather than confirmed in the worst.
