To the editor,
For some time now there has been much talk about young offenders, especially ones who steal vehicles. Recently on the news I heard people saying that after a youth steals a car, their parents should be arrested!
I wonder—do these people have teenagers? Do they know how difficult it is to control them? Teenagers are old enough to know right from wrong. There is no way a parent can have complete control over their teen-ager. There are many great parents out there who do all they can to raise their children right. They teach them right from wrong, yet these children still commit crimes.
When youth steal cars you cannot arrest the parents. What does that solve? It will only make it easier on the youth. I think the only way to stop youth from committing crimes is to make the consequences much more severe, but our justice system makes it easy for them to walk away with only a slap on the wrist. We need to teach youth that they are not going to get away with committing a crime.
By Melody Prosper
This article appears in May 18-24, 2006.