Most of the kids in our (Fredericton) group homes are not based on economic situations Pamela. They are there due to being perpetual runaways, violence in the home (by the kid or against the kid) and other minor crimes. Actually Charles... depending on the conditions of why the youth is in the group home depends on what 'freedoms' they have while there. If a youth leaves the home and does not return by their curfew, the police must be notified to look out for them and return them, due to the fact they under the 'age of majority'. If a youth is NOT to leave the home at all and they do, a higher priority is to return them. Not sure where you get the part of taking them to court when they find them? That only occurs if they breach an undertaking (police or court) that has been imposed on them OR if they actually break the law, while they are 'out'. The part I don't understand, is why these kids can not follow the (very simple) rules while they are there... it just boggles my mind that they know (most of them) the system, they have pretty easy freedoms and it is certainly better than the alternative. A group home is a far cry better than actually being incarcerated in the juvenile detention centre, with absolutely no freedom(s). My big question is; 'how do these kids simply walk out of the home, after hours?' Why is it not possible for the staff to monitor the door so they can not leave, when they are supposed to be in the building? Are these people sleeping (there is supposed to be at least one person awake at all times).
Maybe 21:07 doesn't understand what it's like being a classic teen stuck in a very hard situation. Maybe if the group homes treated them better, and stimulated their brains, they wouldn't want to run. Maybe if we had decent education and could offer them something that feels like security we wouldn't be perpetuating the cycle of creating fodder for the disastrous criminal justice system. I knew a couple of young girls in a group home - both got kicked out. One ended up in the adult shelter, even though she was a minor. Our entire social services, mental health, law enforcement and justice systems are a disaster. No wonder the local cops drink and drive.
Most of the kids in our (Fredericton) group homes are not based on economic situations Pamela. They are there due to being perpetual runaways, violence in the home (by the kid or against the kid) and other minor crimes.
ReplyDeleteActually Charles... depending on the conditions of why the youth is in the group home depends on what 'freedoms' they have while there. If a youth leaves the home and does not return by their curfew, the police must be notified to look out for them and return them, due to the fact they under the 'age of majority'. If a youth is NOT to leave the home at all and they do, a higher priority is to return them. Not sure where you get the part of taking them to court when they find them? That only occurs if they breach an undertaking (police or court) that has been imposed on them OR if they actually break the law, while they are 'out'. The part I don't understand, is why these kids can not follow the (very simple) rules while they are there... it just boggles my mind that they know (most of them) the system, they have pretty easy freedoms and it is certainly better than the alternative. A group home is a far cry better than actually being incarcerated in the juvenile detention centre, with absolutely no freedom(s).
My big question is; 'how do these kids simply walk out of the home, after hours?' Why is it not possible for the staff to monitor the door so they can not leave, when they are supposed to be in the building? Are these people sleeping (there is supposed to be at least one person awake at all times).
Maybe 21:07 doesn't understand what it's like being a classic teen stuck in a very hard situation. Maybe if the group homes treated them better, and stimulated their brains, they wouldn't want to run. Maybe if we had decent education and could offer them something that feels like security we wouldn't be perpetuating the cycle of creating fodder for the disastrous criminal justice system. I knew a couple of young girls in a group home - both got kicked out. One ended up in the adult shelter, even though she was a minor. Our entire social services, mental health, law enforcement and justice systems are a disaster. No wonder the local cops drink and drive.
ReplyDelete