I'm a public defender and I've been representing juveniles for awhile now. I think there are many excellent kids out there and a lot of them make really stupid (and often dangerous) decisions. There are also some very bad kids out there, too. This is likely the way it has always been- but now, where I work (Los Angeles), there is also the whole issue of gangs and gang-violence- now that's a whole different bad. Most of us never had to deal with anything like that as a kid.

The whole juvenile justice system is out of whack. Kids are often treated too harshly, their lives are marked and opportunities go away, others need so much more than they get. Often it seems the parent(s) are the kids main problem, oftentimes it is the lack of parenting. Many times, it's just the kid's inability to think things through. Brains don't work the same for teenagers- really, it's science.

Things that many kids did when I was young, are charged as felonies now. Shoplifting- a felony, a fight at school- a felony, and so on. Many studies have been conducted that basically show that the juvi system doesn't really make much of a difference. If the kid is going to straighten up, they'll probably do it on their own. If they're destined to live a "life of crime", it'll probably happen no matter what steps the court system takes. Of course, there are exceptions. I think I'm a little tired of my line of work...

At least out here, it's up to the police and the DA to file charges. The "victim" or complaining witness can urge action, but they don't "file" charges, contrary to what most people believe. They also can't "drop" charges once they're filed.

I'm glad the parents are willing to try to do what they can to make up for the kid's actions, but I wonder how the parents are dealing with their child.