Alternative Sentencing
On the Colbert Report the other day, there was a feature about a juvenile court judge in Massachusetts who sentences youths to a theater program rather than to juvenile detention.
This form of alternative sentencing leaves open the option for youths to gain certain skills, confidence, and relationships that they would not have otherwise.
This sort of "punishment" is what the juvenile justice system was originally established to impose. Youths were to learn from their indiscretions, be treated as the children of the juvenile court judge, and be rehabilitated by the society that failed them.
The video clips on the Colbert Report showed the same boy who was brought to court for beating up another kid donning a toga and reciting prose. It is not clear that Shakespear is the best way to reach troubled youths -- but it certainly seems like a start.
This form of alternative sentencing leaves open the option for youths to gain certain skills, confidence, and relationships that they would not have otherwise.
This sort of "punishment" is what the juvenile justice system was originally established to impose. Youths were to learn from their indiscretions, be treated as the children of the juvenile court judge, and be rehabilitated by the society that failed them.
The video clips on the Colbert Report showed the same boy who was brought to court for beating up another kid donning a toga and reciting prose. It is not clear that Shakespear is the best way to reach troubled youths -- but it certainly seems like a start.
posted by eponcz at 9:31 AM
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