What to do about underage murderers
In the recent Washington Post article, “Teen said she
and 4 friends sought random victim before fatal beating”.[1] Long title, I know. However, it moves the
reader into a situation that has become more commonly reported. Part of that
reason is because we now have approximately 8.1 billion people in the world: comparatively
over half the population that existed in 1962 of 3.6 billion people.
I’ll go out on a limb here and say, ‘Not much has
changed in the dynamics of human behavior’, it’s just more reported, more
revealed. The delivery of violence by teens and tweens may be disturbing. But
what is more disturbing, is the lack of understanding of the psychological
message that teens, and society have been receiving; as well as what to do with
underaged offenders when found guilty of heinous assaults, and/or murders of others.
The referenced article here, encompasses a few things:
one, is complete disregard for human life; two, is violence through group
mentality; three, truancy checks for minors under age sixteen; and four, the
underaged children appear not to be marked for life, along with the lack of time
in being incarcerated with proper rehabilitation and psyche eval.
Our society with such a low regard for long-term
punishment concerning unthinkable crimes committed by underaged children; this
is not a ‘us versus them’ political discussion. Someone reading this and or the
article will want to play a political connection to this; however, that would
be at least crass to do so. Also, not a way to attempt a resolve of sorts to
address the issues concerning this societal condition.
I can say this can be quickly linked to bullying.
Something we think we are addressing in our schools; however, most of the
anti-bullying campaigns in schools have been window-dressing. The place I saw
true anti-bullying campaigns were from a private sector, mom and pop dojo,
one town over from where I now live. The message they sent in their dojo was
not just about learning katas and being disciplined with understanding proper techniques;
it’s that they often addressed children ages five and above on anti-bullying
tactics to lower the temperature of the situation as it happens.
There were role-playing scenarios with at least one of
the instructors and other children in the class, in an open forum. And the
beauty of that was that parents, siblings and or babysitters had access to view
how to properly engage in anti-bullying tactics without physical confrontation.
Just to give you a flavor: it was observance and simple words, like “Stop!” With
your hand up at face level. “Awake. Aware. Alert. Alive.” Said Pat Domney/Renshi,
who’s taught Karate since before 1996.[2]
When I’ve taught privately and in groups, the first 30
minutes are about awareness of one’s surroundings, proper thinking patterns to
avoid a physical altercation. Renshi makes the statement up above, “Awake.
Aware. Alert. Alive.” As part of one’s teaching and practice in self-defense. I
taught our daughters by the time they were ages five and seven, “If I can’t see
you, I can’t save you.” Our daughters were made well-aware of any potential for
crime. Back then, I asked two police officers who were parents, if my teaching our
daughters, “If I can’t see you, I can’t save you.” was too harsh along with
another lesson I’d taught them a tidbit of my being a US Marine. They both said
“No”. One went even further to say, “I wish more parents would teach their
children that. It would make our jobs easier.” I then breathed a sigh of relief,
knowing that I had done something correctly to keep our daughters safer. Years
later, our daughters would see me in action for someone else’s daughter.
That time arrived: One sunny morning, as I drove through
downtown Los Angeles with our daughters who were both older teens at the time, a
crime was about to occur in front of us. We were at a 5-way traffic
intersection, we had the red light. As we sat there for the light to change, I
saw a six-foot-tall woman, about age forty, begin to accost a young lady of
about age nineteen. It was clear the young lady of nearly five feet in height was
a college student. We were within a half mile of the campus we’d just left. There
were no other cars or people in the area, it was the President’s long weekend just
after ten in the morning.
I realized I was the only person to stop the crime. Yet,
I knew I had to be savvy and protect our daughters, who’d just lost their
father in the last two years. I also am trained in multiple disciplines of
martial arts. I’ve worked weapons training, as well. Although I’m physically
fit, I still had to quickly calculate all the risks, because I saw the scene as
my being responsible for three young women’s lives. For whatever reason, it’s a
view I’ve taken seriously much of my life.
I reckoned that my first choice and best bet, was to distract
the would-be assailant from the girl, and do it without violating the traffic
laws, or putting myself in jeopardy by advancing too early and thus committing
a crime myself. Yet, I had a few seconds to figure out what would be the safest
move for the young lady, our daughters, and society in those seconds.
I opened my car window and yelled, “Ma’am, are you okay?!”
The tone of my voice I allowed was deep and demanding. I knew that would bring
the would-be assailant within feet of my car, yet releasing her hold on the
frightened victim, which in turn I hoped the young lady would take off running
towards safety. Then I’d have to guess what the would-be assailant would do
next. I advised our daughters as the scene played out, as to what they were to
do in case of any altercation.
Imagine the scene as fear for others was present in my
mind. Yet, I had to balance what I could control and advise our daughters on
what I couldn’t control. Crime is about chaos. In the end, the young lady ran
away, at the same time the would-be assailant tried to scare me in an attempt with
her anger, her words and her coming towards our car within feet. I told our
daughters to stay seated, keep doors locked and waited to see if law
enforcement should be contacted. Contacting law enforcement was the last
thought I had, because not a sign of them had I seen in the city for more than
ten minutes. And the situation was second by second. The crime time may feel
like minutes or even hours; yet it’s usually seconds or at most minutes during confrontational
episodes. I know, because I’ve survived a few crimes and attempts on my life.
As the would-be assailant seemed to have fear strike
her within twenty feet of our car, she walked away towards the opposite
sidewalk cursing.
The light changed; I made a left turn at the light.
Seconds later our two daughters yelled, “Mom! The girl is still running!” They
were astounded that the girl had gotten away and no one followed her. I
remarked to them, “You guys are important to me. You hold the future. But so does
she. For all the children are my children.”
And in saying all that, with reference to the above Washington
Post article; the element our society is short-handed, on its proper
psychological counseling to underage criminals with extended incarceration time
periods. Too, as opposed to five years for murdering while not being tried as
an adult; it should be a minimum of ten years sentencing with adequate
psychological rehabilitation and constant re-evaluation of the incarcerated throughout
each of their years incarcerated.--- Jody-Lynn Reicher
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