Racial disparities in charging juveniles as adults?

[demopublican]

I'm not sure what magical powers "leaders" have to accomplish that

Well if they cant they should step down

[yuca]

People keep on comparing the % charged as adults vs the percentage of the population, but none of the idiots in the article want to acknowledge the fact that african americans commit crime at a disproportionately high rate in Maryland. Reality offends some people's delicate PC sensibilities.

Exactly. Just look at the murder statistics alone.

I wish they would at least compare the % of juveniles charged as adults vs. the % of the total juvenile population (or even the percent of those in poverty). I suspect that a lot more than 63.7% of the city's juvenile population is black. Given the changing demographics of the city and surrounding counties, of which we are constantly reminded, there will be a difference.

This inflammatory article is clearly written in such a way so that the numbers are skewed.

[bmore_ken]

They have the power to enact policy and programs, sometimes with a misguided attempt to right wrongs, programs and policy that are potentially damaging, but at the same time create a dependent class of voters.

So what policies would you recommend?

[bmore_ken]

Well if they cant they should step down

What can or should they do in your opinion to stop a gang banger from gang banging?

[yuca]

By the way, one of my (white) friends has a 5-year-old child who attends a city Elementary school. The school is roughly 2/3 African-American, yet 100% of the children taunting, hitting, and otherwise abusing the child are black. School authorities refuse to do anything about it. Incidentally, this is according to what my friend has told me, and she is in no way "racist" (she's dated several black guys). They recently moved to Baltimore, so it's unfortunate that she's seeing this ugliness.

If we are to discuss racial disparities, we should discuss this kind as well.

[Baltimatt]

Yuca--

How many children taunt this child? If it's an ongoing thing, she needs to take it up the ladder all the way to Dr. Alanso.

[demopublican]

What can or should they do in your opinion to stop a gang banger from gang banging?

Their jobs.
Foot patrols, police work, asking questions
Kicking ***
Arrest arrest arrest
charge charge charge
No Plea no Plea no Plea

[yuca]

Yuca--

How many childraen taunt this child? If it's an ongoing thing, she needs to take it up the ladder all the way to Dr. Alanso.

From what I've heard, it's about 1/2 dozen, mostly from the "upper" grades (3rd/4th grade).

I also heard that they play a "game" with the child, where they run around shoving him to the ground. I don't know about you, but when I was in Kindergarten, we didn't play these kinds of "games."

I think that he is viewed as "weak" and an "easy target." And then city leaders wonder why parents don't want to send their children to city schools. Unfortunately, my friend is not in a position to relocate and she doesn't have the money for private school.

[bmore_ken]

Their jobs.
Foot patrols, police work, asking questions
Kicking ***
Arrest arrest arrest
charge charge charge
No Plea no Plea no Plea

How does that stop gang banging and drug dealing when there are already replacements waiting to take the place of the arrested, *** kicked, charged, no plea gangbanger?

[Baltimatt]

Yuca--

She needs to raise a stink.

http://www.baltimorecityschools.org/Page/570

Andrés A. Alonso, Ed.D.
200 E. North Avenue
Room 405
Baltimore MD 21202
(410) 396-8803

[bmore_ken]

Whatever I had to do my child would be pulled from that school

[Lawman 27]

Yuca--

How many children taunt this child? If it's an ongoing thing, she needs to take it up the ladder all the way to Dr. Alanso.

Ha, ha, ha, ha

Matt,

You've always impressed me as a thinking person, yet you actually believe that taking this up the ladder, even to Dr A would mean anything?

[Baltimatt]

Lawman--

Parents can get stuff done. I know one father who got his kid out of Patterson and into City College when the boy was jumped at school.

[Lawman 27]

What can or should they do in your opinion to stop a gang banger from gang banging?

Their jobs.
Foot patrols, police work, asking questions
Kicking ***
Arrest arrest arrest
charge charge charge
No Plea no Plea no Plea

Ha, ha, ha, ha...

Oh, I am laughing my adorable buns off today...

Seriously, How can the Police do anything?

---> How many City Police are going to stand up and fight crime knowing that their jobs are on the line if they so much as hurt a suspect's feelings?
---> How many 'less than dedicated Officers' are going to give a darn, get off thier butts, and fight crime?

Until the Mayor and City Council decide that crime is bad, nothing will change.

____________________________

Oh, Demo...

Speaking of kicking ****

Remember what happened when an Officer tried to stop a kid from running over honest citizens with a skateboard? Commissioner Fred (I SURRENDER) B. was quick to fire that Officer.

It isn't that the honest Officers don't want to make a difference. It's just that they know better than to even try.

[pepper]

So what policies would you recommend?

Good question, Ken. I don't really know. Then again, I'm not pretending to be in an elected leadership position.

Clearly, we could look at the policies and subsidies that contribute to the destruction, and maybe enact policy that heads in the opposite direction. First, we have to stem the flow of kids born to parents that can't possibly raise them. As long as that flows freely, the only realtime response will be to arrest our way through.

I'll take a leap and suggest that the vast majority of Baltimore's teens charged as adults come from broken, single mom or grandparent homes. (I know, many single moms and dads do a great job, better than some "intact" families...but statistically, our inmates have the shared commonality of broken homes. Thats not the same as "mom and dad are divorced", but rather, moms unfit/unable and dad does not exist)

The problem is that even common sense measures are often considered Draconian or discriminatory. Things like mandatory public service for people that have kids but have no jobs or support from the father. Or putting able bodied people in public housing to work a few hours a week helping to maintain their community. This sort of thing would invest an interest in the community.

It's no different than you or I getting the kids to do some chores around the house. And yes, the generationally dependent might need to be handled like children initially. Like children, a work ethic must be taught or instilled. It's not natural and if everything is given, and theres no financial penalty for having kids with no means for self-support, it's the same as encouraging it.

These are things most typical moms and dads do anyway, like going to work or cutting the grass. It's expected of folks like you and I, but considered some sort of punishment for those dependent on government. (taxpayers)

Of course, thats the last thing Baltimore's political leaders want.

Don't upset the constituants by actually pointing the finger of responsibility at them, and certainly don't do anything that might instill a feeling of independence, community care, or self reliability. They might turn conservative or god forbid, become Republicans!

[pepper]

Ha, ha, ha, ha...

Oh, I am laughing my adorable buns off today...

Seriously, How can the Police do anything?

---> How many City Police are going to stand up and fight crime knowing that their jobs are on the line if they so much as hurt a suspect's feelings?
---> How many 'less than dedicated Officers' are going to give a darn, get off thier butts, and fight crime?

Until the Mayor and City Council decide that crime is bad, nothing will change.

____________________________

Oh, Demo...

Speaking of kicking ****

Remember what happened when an Officer tried to stop a kid from running over honest citizens with a skateboard? Commissioner Fred (I SURRENDER) B. was quick to fire that Officer.

It isn't that the honest Officers don't want to make a difference. It's just that they know better than to even try.

Hi Lawman. Hope you had a safe and happy Christmas.

I get what you're saying about cops wanting to avoid some PR issues by not being tough, but the story behind this thread shows that theres little problem arresting suspects.

Officer Rivieri (sp?) is a bad example, IMO. Yes, he was doing his job, but he was not strong enough to handle that situation. He allowed the kids to manipulate his emotions. They clearly thought he was a tool, and I think he got way too sensitive because maybe he felt that as well. The uniform and little car does not help. He allowed some punk teens to get under his skin, the same way a weak high school teacher might, when faced with teens that don't respect authority. .

[Lawman 27]

Hi Lawman. Hope you had a safe and happy Christmas.

I get what you're saying about cops wanting to avoid some PR issues by not being tough, but the story behind this thread shows that theres little problem arresting suspects.

Officer Rivieri (sp?) is a bad example, IMO. Yes, he was doing his job, but he was not strong enough to handle that situation. He allowed the kids to manipulate his emotions. They clearly thought he was a tool, and I think he got way too sensitive because maybe he felt that as well. The uniform and little car does not help. He allowed some punk teens to get under his skin, the same way a weak high school teacher might, when faced with teens that don't respect authority. .

Good morning to you Pepper, hope you and yours had a Merry Christmas as well.

There is little problem in making the arrests, the Officers are very capable of doing their jobs (when the politicians will let them).

As far as Officer Rivieri goes, he was indeed strong enough to handle the situation. Sadly, the City and Commissioner weren't. Instead of telling the public that the inner harbor will be a safe area for tourists, the public was told that the Police will surrender in a heartbeat.
I am not saying he was right in doing what he did, but I will point out that we did not see the entire video and either way it was NOT enough to fire an Officer over.

(I realize we're touching on another subject here, but it follows that if children KNOW that they can get away with crimes, if they know the Police will be held accountable AND if they know that the Media is their friends, then they will continue to commit crimes).