Troubled Teens Resources

In a perfect world there would be no teen age drug abuse, no brat camps, no juvenile justice. In that world, young people would not only discover their gifts and talent, they would do so at an early age, allowing them to direct all their energy into learning how to execute their passion successfully, paving a way to a productive and satisfying life.

It seems so simple, yet it is so hard.

“You have to find their passion,” she says of children.”

She is a mother who home schooled her son until fourth grade, “…she exposed him to a world of possibilities“. At 8 years of age, the young man found his passion;rebuilding and designing cars and his parents had faith in his vision.

“Several years and about $50,000 later, according to Bell’s mother, who sold a car and refinanced her home to acquire cars and tools for her son, Bell has become an accomplished welder, cutter and chopper.”

Another phrase I have heard used is that you have to find a child’s gift, that which they were born to do. But how many adults are still trying to find what they love to do, and if they do happen to figure it out, can they make a living from it?

We don’t live in that perfect world, but the principle of finding what you love and doing it is exemplified by this story. A story where parents take the time to know their teen, present the worlds possibilities, and guide and support them as they hone their skills and master their strengths.

When does teen crisis intervention end and adult punishment begin? There is ongoing debate within the halls of juvenile justice as to appropriate sentencing for violent teen offenders. There is growing concern that as teen violence is perpetuated by adolescents at younger and younger ages, that sentencing needs to be adjusted to reflect the seriousness of their crimes.

The same debate seems to be ongoing in Europe as well. Their various systems of juvenile justice may differ from America’s but they have been as seriously impacted by teen drug abuse, binge drinking and teen crime as we have. They also seem to have the same factions contending for the final word on the matter.

One side contends that it is unjust to force a teen offender into an adult system that offers little in the way of education or rehab.

Allowing defendants under 21 to be tried and sentenced according to juvenile law lowers the chances of repeat offenders by providing judges with more leeway in issuing appropriate sentences, he said.

“In general law you have fines, probation and jail sentences,” Sonnen said. “In juvenile law there is a much wider palette of options.”

Opponents feel that truly violent teens need punishment, not coddling.

“This week, Beate Merk, Bavaria’s justice minister and a member of the conservative Christian Social Union (CSU) renewed criticism that cases such as the juvenile prison torture and murder showed that young offenders were also guilty of serious crimes which weren’t sufficiently punished with a ten-year prison sentence.

Offenders between 18 and 20 who are convicted according to juvenile law should thus get a tougher maximum sentence, Merk said.”

(source)

One can’t help but side with those who wish to meet extreme violence with adult cures. Especially where a long juvenile record indicates the juvenile has zero respect for the law. When young teens witness their peers getting light punishment for serious offenses, it only perpetuates the problem.

Teenagers are given insight into the workings of juvenile justice when volunteering for Teen Court. Teen court is a form of teen crisis intervention that serves to educate youth on both sides of the law. For those who volunteer to serve, it is an opportunity not only to gain a better understanding of the legal system, but it also places them in a position to judge those of their peers who will stand before them.

“The defendants’ cases are presented to a jury of their peers, which determines their sentencing. Defendants are issued sentences that may include community service, writing letters of apology or essays or volunteering with the program.

“Many of the volunteers have been influenced by it,” said Driger. “We’ve tried to educate those persons.”

Teen court is used in various cities throughout the country and is noted most for making an impact on recidivism, making it one of the more effective programs for troubled teens.

The program has also chipped away considerably at one of its primary goals — preventing repeat offenders.

“Since the first year, the success rate has dipped below 90 percent just once — during a period from 2000-2001.”
“We’re very proud of the success rate…It gives them [defendants] the opportunity to make the right choice.”
(source)