I wouldn't say I was in favour of zero tolerance, kids should be allowed to be kids, they do daft things, how do they learn if they are not allowed to make mistakes....some make the mistake several times before they realise it's not a good decision, I know I've done this several times due to immaturity
I would like to see the rules a little more clear cut though, why doesn't life mean life? Why does it mean 15 years, oyu can take someone elses life and destroy their family and do betwen 9-15 years for it?
I guess I am talking about real justice, I am a firm believer in the punishment fitting the crime, which doesn't always mean a jail sentence, I don't want my kids getting arrested for assault because they have had a grass fight when the lawns are freshly mowed and some little precious cries to his mother that he has got a stone or a blade of grass in his eye - toughen up kid, shit happens, it doesn't require a visit from the police
I believe when kids get up to potentially dangerous childhood pranks such as dialling emergency services because they want to see the big fire truck with its flashing lights tear down the street, DO NOT have them up on a charge.....they would learn more by being ordered down to their local firestation to clean boots and wash engines down every night after school and over the weekend, they have lost their free time, they have to do something they don't want to do and they have to face some pretty pissed off firemen who know what they did, if they grafitti, give themn the equipment to wash it off, have fun kid cos you have a whole street to do,it would be a far better life lesson than putting them on yet another caution that means absolutely nothing, apart from something to brag about to their friends.