Keeping Kids Outside the System -Rashad

http://reason.com/archives/2011/07/04/keeping-kids-outside-the-syste

This article tells about the case of Rashad, a 14 year old living in a home filled with abuse. It tells how the justice system failed him and how he was nearly sent to jail himself for being beaten by his drugged mother. Eventually, the case came down to whether or not Rashad had to go back home to live with his abusive mother. It was bad enough for the judge to decide who was telling the truth in the domestic abuse case, but worse even if he was charged with the most minor charge, he would be sent home to live with her again.

I believe that Rashad should have had more of an opportunity to talk to someone such as a social worker to tell his story. Though I am sure he is not a completely innocent child, he has the right to tell his side and get justice for what has been done to him his entire life. The article adds that if Rashad would have been sent to Family Counseling first and foremost that his family and the courts could have saved a lot of money. I think that all juvenile justice systems need to see that there are easier, more simple and less costly ways of keeping kids out of the system.