Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform > Brat Camp

Karen In Dallas

<< < (6/125) > >>

Anonymous:
Well, I guess you could say it was under the radar when I did some JJ detention mentoring, but after doing it twice, I gave a program proposal to the Juvenile Judge who had given me permission to talk to detention kids in the first place (I took several classes in undergrad from this particular judge who taught on the side). And since I was not an employee of the system, what I did was strictly voluntarily...I was just lucky know the right person at the right time.

The judge gave me the go ahead for the mentoring proposal and instructed her staff (primarily the probation dept.) to work with me and make it happen. Then, while in the midst of working out the details, along came law school. I had to move three hours away from home to attend, so it was impossible to continue the project. But I have not forgotten it and will revive it at the first opportunity I get, after graduation, the bar exam, and moving back home.

As far as the reception the idea received from those in the JJ system...mixed...I saw both enthusiam, total support, skepticism and out right rejection of the idea. The judge and the supervisory probation officers were the ones enthusiastic and supportive...while the "lower" probation officers/staff generally were pessimistic and very negative.

Another interesting thing....I notice the same combination of attitudes, positive and negative in the juvenile court where I externed last year. (I didnt get to propose that idea while there...at that time I was focused on abuse, neglect, and dependency). Both my home town and the place where I attend law school have what they call Model Courts (See, National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges-- http://www.ncjfcj.org) Although by no means perfect, and while there are still plenty of problems with the JJ system, the Model Courts seem to have one thing with potential going for them...willingness to try new ideas and then share those ideas, both their successes and failures, with other juvenile courts around the country....In my opinion, these courts are the most ideal place in the JJ system for trying to get mentoring off the ground again. And the juvenile justice system may have the potential to influence private programs, especially because the juvenile courts routinely refer kids and parents to them.

One of the obstacles to getting mentoring off the ground is finding people that would be happy to spend hours on end with these kids. Because after hours of sifting through the anger, next comes all the emotions, if you can get a kid to that point, which then takes more endless hours with kids. And for mentoringing to work it does take time. The challenge is to convince people in the system that its worth every minute, that those kids desperately need the attention. If money were not an issue I would love to mentor full time, but gotta pay the astronomical school debt.

And you are right, it would take convincing a lot of people do steer away from what I call "bandaid solutions" that try to correct outward behavior, and do  nothing to help kids through the cause of theirs actions....the pain, whatever the source of their pain may be. And convincing the JJ system that coercive tactics are inhumane, ineffective, and exaccerbate kids "issues"
....well, thats another challenge altogether. Then, trying to convince them all these kids really are not bad and have a lot of potential if given a real chance....well, yet another obstacle...

But then again, if enough people start shaking up the system, programs, etc. with new ideas that dont involve force, maybe they'll have to take notice! Who knows , its worth a shot. And I know there are at least some out there who would take notice.

BTW, there is at least some recognition within the JJ system that coercive programs are bad news, I just dont know how common that attitude is yet, but it is a ray of hope I guess you could say.

Nonconformistlaw:
Oops, I forgot to use my user name...the previous, extremely long post about mentoring in the JJ system was from me, nonconformistlaw. :smile:

Anonymous:
"karenindallas SAID

?I hate fornits so much, I am going to write my congressman a letter and tell him. Yes, I have THAT much free time and nothing better to do. You think you are all that-- let me tell you, you are not. I am a lawyer and am much smarter than everyone here. Much smarter. So much, I am surprised any of you can read, let alone type."

This post was not made by Karen. She has not posted on this board in days. This was one of you pretending to be her.
Enjoy arguing with yourselves.

Antigen:

--- Quote ---On 2005-08-06 12:23:00, Deborah wrote:

While the restraint is happening the restrainer is holding the kid in the highest regard. He is always aware that the kid (or adult) is unable to think rationally due to the anger, therefore can?t control his anger. So the restrainer puts the kid in a safe hold and states the truth while the restraint is happening, ?I?m going to hold you until your anger has passed. I can?t allow you to hurt yourself or others. When you?ve calmed down we?ll discuss what upset you. Your anger may be justified, but hurting yourself or others is not.?

--- End quote ---


Deb, I think your idea depends on sane people being in charge. The above is just exactly what they said in Straight. Follow me on just a short trip into Loony Land if you want to understand it.

According to Program dogma, we all were desperate druggies who would have been deadinsaneorinjail w/o the Program. So, by not working the program or by disrupting the working of the program for others (i.e. by expressing a dissenting view of any kind, for example) was, in fact, risking your own life and the lives of others. That's not just a guess. We said it outright to each other when called upon by staff to confront the misebehaver. "Johnny, I'm so pissed off at you! I'm here to get straight and when you sing druggie songs it brings me down. You don't have the right to risk my life like that. But we love you so we're gonna keep the pressure on you till you start to see the light and start getting yourself straight!"

See how that works? If you're determined enough, you can make a threat to self or others out of something as subtle as an eye roll or an unauthorized smile or conversation.

I really don't understand what it is about families like mine and all the rest who wind up in this industry. I knew a lot of sane people who's parents regarded the whole thing as absolutely lunatic. I don't think you can pass a law requiring people to be sane about these things, far less enforce it. I think the most effective thing we can do is just to get the word out on how crazy this whole thing is. At least then maybe some of the potential marks will see them coming and pass them by.

The idea of God is the sole wrong for which I cannot forgive mankind.
--Marquis de Sade, French libertine
--- End quote ---

Deborah:
Yeh Ginger, precisely. I'd rather a staff shoot my son with a sedative dart gun than restrain him, cause I know the intention and potential for injury and death, not to mention the psych/emotional damage.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page

[*] Previous page