Keeping Kids in the Home and out of the System

Studieshaveconsistentlyconcludedthatmanypersonalitydisordersandmoreseriousmentaldisordersarebelievedtobethe resultof dysfunctionalfamilyrelationships,andvery oftenstemfromtheparent-childrelationship.Thismakessense,childreninitially learnimportantbehaviorsfromtheirfamiliesoforigin. Forexample,parentsarethefirstonestosocialize theirchildsotheycanteachtheirchildrensocialize andtosaypleaseandthankyou,taketurns,be patientetc.Theprimarypurposeofthisbookisto assurethatparentshavetheinformationtheyneed toproperlyraisechildrenwhohavetheskillsnecessary tobesuccessfuladultsandnotendupintheCriminal JusticeSystem.Bythetimeyouthendupinthe juvenilejusticesystem,itmaybetoolate.Theybecomelabelledanoffenderormaybeevenapredator.That labelgivessocietytherighttolocktheyouthup duringwhichtimetheywillbetraumatized. Sometimeswell-meaning,uninformed,andfrustratedparents perpetuatetheirchildrenenteringthecriminaljustice systemandevenofchildservingagenciessuchas socialservices.Whenparentsarefacedwithchildren whoareincorrigible,at-risk,ortheparentisunabletocareforthechilddue totheirownpersonalproblems,someparentswill welcometheinterventionofthecriminaljusticesystem forsupport.Aftertheirchildhasbeentakenintocustody, Ihavehadparentstellme,youraisemychildbecauseI cannotdoit.Someparentsbelievethathavingaccess toaprobationofficerwithabadgeandpowersofarrest,givesthemthereliefandrespitetheyneededtoaddress theirchildsdestructivebehavior.Mythreedecadesof experienceworkingwithyouthandparentsinthe criminaljusticerevealedthat,inmostcases,probationandsocialservicesinterventiondonotmakeyouthbetter. Converselyformostyouth,theirexperiencewith socialservicesandprobationdepartmentshas resultedinongoingdelinquencyandtheyouth transitioningintotheadultCriminalJusticeSystem. However,goodparentingisthegatekeepertothe criminaljusticesystem.