Now what kind of program do you think a kid like this would end up being placed in if not for Juvie?
My bet is on a program like Three Springs, since they contract out with all sorts of juvenile justice systems. Che, you have some experience with that program. Seems like this is a case of being stuck between a rock and a hard place.
There may be programs that would be the lesser of two evils between itself and juvie. But, no those programs do tend to get kids who should have never been sent away in the first place. For this kid, any program he would get sent to, or eventually get placed in, would be no better than juvie. I'm sure Matthew Israel would take him open arms.
Oh they'd love him at Courtland or Madison as both are indoor lockdowns run by Three Springs on a contractual basis. Kid like that would never see the light of day again. Sad fact here is this boy needs something more than what either TBS or Juvie has on offer. I'm not sure what the kid needs, but the first thing that comes to mind is the kid is scarred for life in more ways than one.
He's scarred himself from self-mutilation and his record scars him as the kid who kills birds to get bones to cut himself up. Not many adults will easily overlook such behavior. No matter where he goes he's going to be known as the bird killing lunatic. Either way being locked away behind the doors of a program without representation, without a lawyer, without proper treatment, and without someone who gives a damn looking over him is a recipe for disaster.
A kid like that needs socialization with people who don't exist in a treatment setting. A program will merely expose him to more of the same crazy shit and it will not open his eyes to behavior that society considers normal. Being thrown in an isolation room, put on a consequence, or being made to wear a green shirt(CALO style) just isn't normal. That boy needs to be around people who give a damn. Now I'm not advocating turning him loose completely as I don't know enough about him and I'm not what I call a qualfied person to make that sort of judgement.
But he definitely needs some time around people who aren't monitoring his every movement to see if he's going to shank a pigeon.
