Sensationalising reporting is one-sided and misleading!
Everyday responsible good living adults watch the nightly TV news and sometimes see large groups of kids aged between 7 and 16 years old roaming the streets fighting and vandalising. The message that viewers hear most of all is that they are too young to be brought to justice and punished.
The positive side to this kind of reporting is that the public are finding out that there is a big problem with out of control kids. Their intentions are good. But the downside is that viewers see the kids laughing outside court, not charged and allowed to go free. It tends to fill them with confusion and outrage over a failing system.
How can these kids be free with no consequences to keep committing offences? Understandably viewers develop a sense of hopelessness believing that nothing is being done and can be done. Kids are protected and have all the rights. The community does not seem to have any.
Unfortunately sensationalising reporting is generally a one way affair, a one way reporting. The viewers do not get the full picture of both sides. they don't see what the system does to get these kids back on track.
There is a Juvenile Justice system that supports the kids who have received so many warnings. Workers are assigned to their cases to help them make better choices. The families of these children are supported with parenting advice and programs. There are even police support programs like judo, gym etc for the youth.
Sensationalising reporting from my perspective may be perceived as right and wrong. It is right to let people know what is happening but wrong to be only one-sided. As a result good responsible adult believe that society is going downhill at a rapid pace and absolutely nothing can be done.
I don't know if it is at all possible to solve this issue with reporting. I am far more interested in putting effort and money being put into preventative programming.
It probably won't stop all kids from acting out but it might reduce the delinquency occurring on the streets. Meanwhile viewers need to be assured that our standard of living is not altogether
going down the drain.
Cheers and Blessings
Howdy angiemitchell! I agree with you about preventative measures. If those kids were in Texas they'd be in jail, they are SO tough on any little violation here, teenager or adult. We tell people to be very careful if they come to Texas! Of course Mrs. J sees it first hand and we're constantly shocked at what people are thrown in jail for here!
Hi janton, I will be careful if we come to Texas, it sounds a little scary. Reaching a happy medium is not easy when it comes to the law is it?
we think they are WAY to harsh on minor crimes and misdomeaners here. We see people get arrested and thrown in jail just because they didn't have the proper insurance papers in their car! And if you do something serious you can forget it, your life is in prison for the next few decades!
janton, this is awful, people don't have rights?
yes but the jurys and judges are very strict here. The judges sentence people for very long times, too long for the level of crime, at least that's what we've seen.
for instance, there is one girl in the county jail that Mrs. J works with, the girl is an inmate there. She has a totally clean record and had never been in trouble. One day she broke into a vacant home, she doesn't know why, she was just bored and curious to see the house inside, she wasn't thinking real clear but she's like 19 years old, maybe she'd been drinking.
But anyway, she didn't steal anything but the cops caught her and now she's going to trial and they're trying to put her in prison for 10 years! Her first ever offense. That's the kind of thing we see all the time here, or Mrs. J does. It's shocking to us. We moved here from Ohio...up there this case wouldn't have even gone to trial, they'd just fine her and let her go.
BALANCE!............ whether it is your diet, your exercise program or reporting.... absolutely necessary.
Making a sensation does draw attention however and is a good place to get started. One should develop the habit of looking into things to get the full picture. But I'm often at fault...........too lazy!