Keeping Kids in the Home and out of the System

<p>Studieshaveconsistentlyconcludedthatmanypersonalitydisordersandmoreseriousmentaldisordersarebelievedtobethe resultof dysfunctionalfamilyrelationshipsandvery oftenstemfromtheparent-childrelationship.Thismakessensechildreninitially learnimportantbehaviorsfromtheirfamiliesoforigin. Forexampleparentsarethefirstonestosocialize theirchildsotheycanteachtheirchildrensocialize andtosaypleaseandthankyoutaketurnsbe patientetc.Theprimarypurposeofthisbookisto assurethatparentshavetheinformationtheyneed toproperlyraisechildrenwhohavetheskillsnecessary tobesuccessfuladultsandnotendupintheCriminal JusticeSystem.Bythetimeyouthendupinthe juvenilejusticesystemitmaybetoolate.Theybecomelabelledanoffenderormaybeevenapredator.That labelgivessocietytherighttolocktheyouthup duringwhichtimetheywillbetraumatized. Sometimeswell-meaninguninformedandfrustratedparents perpetuatetheirchildrenenteringthecriminaljustice systemandevenofchildservingagenciessuchas socialservices.Whenparentsarefacedwithchildren whoareincorrigibleat-riskortheparentisunabletocareforthechilddue totheirownpersonalproblemssomeparentswill welcometheinterventionofthecriminaljusticesystem forsupport.Aftertheirchildhasbeentakenintocustody IhavehadparentstellmeyouraisemychildbecauseI cannotdoit.Someparentsbelievethathavingaccess toaprobationofficerwithabadgeandpowersofarrestgivesthemthereliefandrespitetheyneededtoaddress theirchildsdestructivebehavior.Mythreedecadesof experienceworkingwithyouthandparentsinthe criminaljusticerevealedthatinmostcasesprobationandsocialservicesinterventiondonotmakeyouthbetter. Converselyformostyouththeirexperiencewith socialservicesandprobationdepartmentshas resultedinongoingdelinquencyandtheyouth transitioningintotheadultCriminalJusticeSystem. Howevergoodparentingisthegatekeepertothe criminaljusticesystem.</p>