MA, you are wrong. Juvie is horrible. It will ruin the kid's life. I can't believe you would suggest a parent go that route. See what the rate for going to and graduating from college is after juvie.
The problem with this site is that so much of the information is wrong- both with respect to individuals such as Karen and with respect to issues such as alternatives for teens. You are really off-base with your comments and I hope no one comes here looking for truth.
I am curious if you saw the TB documnetary that was on Google Video for a while, a few months back. There was a kid on it interviewed (now an adult) who said a group of other kids ganged up on him and attacked him, attempting to murder him in the surf of Jamaica, so that the program would be shut down and/or the kids would get put into juvie, or some other sort of detention other than WWASPS. Talk to WWASPS graduates and drop outs alike and you will hear countless rumors of students attacking other students in an attempt to be charged with assault and enter the justice system in order to escape WWASPS.
Juvenille hall is better than some programs, kids know it, and are willing to hurt other kids in order to prove their point.
I've been to juvie, my life is not ruined. I've been to abusive programs as well, and I don't spend any time posting on juvie abuse boards, why do you think that is?