User Comments

1. 

   4/28/08

   pointlessbanter

   1 year in a child detention center with 4 years of probation.
   
   That crap happens all the time with teens. It was only looked upon as being so horrible because it was caught on tape.

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   1. 

      4/28/08

      ekim941

      I disagree. I saw the tape. That poor girl just wanted to leave and was very non-confrontational with these bullies. It's sad to see children that have no compassion.
   2. 

      4/28/08

      pointlessbanter

      A lot of teens don't have compassion. I don't condone what they did but first offenders (I assume) with no real record of anything will get scared shitless serving any time. If you put them in prison which would happen after they left juvenile detention they are going to get housed by people that are probably a lot worse then they are.
      
      So when they get out they will have a prison record, no real future, and probably have some pretty crappy habits about them. Advancing their life from that point on is probably not going to happen and they will just be another drain on the system.
2. 

   4/28/08

   Anok

   Here is my thing - if we can't, don't or won't treat teens as young adults or adults while we are raising them, why is it OK to punish them like adults when they do something wrong?
   
   I'm not saying this is all well and good here, but we coddle children here toa point that goes above and beyond protecting them, dare I say we have stunted them.
   
   SO when they go out and do something stupid, heinous even because they are immature, coddled, spoiled or simply think that they will always get the kind of treatment they have always gotten - how can we trun around and say "oops! We babied you so much you seem to have no respect for anyone or anything, now we'll treat you like an adult!".
   
   It's a day late and a dollar short, if you ask me.

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   1. 

      4/28/08

      daniel23

      I agree. But it's got to start somewhere.
3. 

   4/28/08

   daniel23

   A public punishment (beating) and community service (hard labour).

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4. 

   4/28/08

   kaybday

   5-7 years in minimum security. Probation after. And civil damages should be paid to the girl's parents. The act was premeditated, and afterwards, even as these individuals approached the judge, there was no remorse. With the exception of the girl who went to authorities, the rest should receive real punishment rather than a slap on the wrist. Until you hold young adults accountable, there will be violence like this and like the violence that harms innocents elsewhere. Look at what is happening to the innocent in L.A. and in Chicago.

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   1. 

      4/28/08

      daniel23

      The prison system as it exists doesn't work. It turns out hardened criminals.
   2. 

      4/28/08

      pointlessbanter

      Do you think the time they get will deter other teens from doing anything else like this? Come on.
   3. 

      4/28/08

      daniel23

      Exactly. A public punishment and community labour will though.
   4. 

      4/28/08

      pointlessbanter

      Public punishment in this news cycle with teenagers. Nobody is going to care about this story in two weeks. Just like nobody would care about a public punishment.
   5. 

      4/28/08

      daniel23

      If you were a young type and you saw some "cool kids" getting beat in public and humiliated and denounced for being anti-socials, wouldn't that have an impact on you?
   6. 

      4/28/08

      pointlessbanter

      No because teens are self involved and two days after they saw that they would be focused on "The Hills" or whatever.
   7. 

      4/28/08

      daniel23

      oh come on. in Ireland the IRA were very successful with this stuff. and "naming and shaming" also is good.
   8. 

      4/28/08

      pointlessbanter

      1) country size
      2) media distractions
      3) wealth of our country
      4) disposable wealth of teens here
      5) material possessions of most teens
      
      I am going to guess all five a higher than Ireland.
   9. 

      4/28/08

      daniel23

      I agree a new work ethic and spirit of self-responsibility needs to be encouraged. Parents shouldn't give kids random cash. They should have to work. None of this New Age permissive crap.
   10. 

       4/28/08

       pointlessbanter

       "I agree a new work ethic and spirit of self-responsibility needs to be encouraged. Parents shouldn't give kids random cash. They should have to work."
       
       I agree... I have always worked growing up. I think it installs some really important traits.
5. 

   4/28/08

   LSKcrochet

   Community Service and Counseling.
   
   There must have been deep seeded issues amongst those girls. I have no idea why someone would not feel any remorse towards a hurt or injured person, especially if they were the cause of it.
   
   Unfortunately, our prison system , at any level, is not capable of providing the help that most troubled teens need. Over crowding prisons, on top of, little or no family support, produces " Repeat offenders." Do we will really want to send children into an environment where they will possibly receive limited or no one-on-one counseling?
   
   I feel very sadden by the fact that humans would beat and injure another human in that way. However, this is a common problem amongst our teens and some form of intervention needs to be addressed. It's obvious that our past efforts have failed and family counseling is not utilized enough within our society. The parents of the accused, should have to pay through monetary awards,hospitalization, therapeutic and any other additional needs on the behalf of the victim. It's painfully obvious that there are many sides to this case, and if every bore on the side of love, compassion and forgiveness, this may have never happen in the first place.
   
   As a teenager, I became a victim in a similar situation . I've seen those same girls and none of them are successful. I feel sorry for them. I feel sorry that they weren't brought up as I was. That they didn't have the opportunities that were made available to me while my parents raised us. I forgive them and I hope that they do a better job with their kids.

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   1. 

      4/28/08

      daniel23

      I've never randomly beat anybody. only if they looked at me funny.
6. 

   4/28/08

   pamelabaker

   I think that they should be evaluated. To beat some one with no remorse is not normal. If they are a-social, they will not go into a situation locked up with other violent people, and come out fixed.
   I am not saying that they should not be locked up for what they have done, but that there should be some therapy involved.
   If home life was part of the problem then I think a half way house before entering back into society on probation may be a good step as well.
   Should the evaluation show a need for medication, I think they should be monitored for at least 10 years to make sure that they are on that medication.

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7. 

   4/28/08

   kaybday

   I tend to not view things like this in a current social context. Violence is nothing new; we simply are more aware of it now because of media. These were priviliged kids. They should receive the same punishment as those in lower socio-economic strata, in my opinion, and I assure you, those in that lower strata would not be treated tenderly. The jails are crowded because of ridiculous contradictions in sentencing, such as sending tax offenders, pot smokers and God knows who else to prison. Just my 2 pennies. best, Kay

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8. 

   4/28/08

   LSKcrochet

   Privileged or not, they are still kids. Money can't buy love, compassion, or forgiveness. There will always be socio-economic strata, that's just apart of life. I don't like it, but I have learned to deal with it. I'm that weird lady that is constantly up at the school. My son is only in Kindergarten but I've had several meetings with teachers, principles, and administrators. His first few weeks were really ruff. He never had to deal with " defending" himself, emotionally and physically before. Some of the kids were like animals. Hitting, spitting, kicking, throwing.....I was petrified. I wanted to pull him out immediately and home-school. Recently, his teacher told me that she wished that all her parents were as concerned about their children as much as I was. I was baffled because I thought that all parents desired a safe environment for their children to learn. I admit, that I can be overbearing at times but, I don't ever want there to be a time that I have to look back and say that "I wish that I had"....I've decided to "just do it". No pun intended. So yes, I will be that Mom driving her teenaged kids everywhere, rummaging through there bedrooms, listening in on phone calls. I will do what ever it takes to make sure that the survive in this cruel world.
   Now, you have 4 cents:)

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   1. 

      4/29/08

      daniel23

      A bit of a rough-n-tumble is totally natural. Fist-fights are natural. What's not natural is vicious attacks and beatings like the one in question. I think that if the former were tolerated the latter would hardly ever occur.
9. 

   4/29/08

   mari610

   I by no means would call these individuals "children"
   They were old enough to plan this attack ahead of time,old enough to lure this poor girl to the home and old enough to threaten further violence, if she dared tell anyone about the incident. What "child" would beat someones head against a wall, causing her to pass out, and when she awoke, continue the attack? and showing no fear or remorse after being arrested,as most "children" would after being handcuffed and taken to jail. They thought it was one big joke.The authorities reported that they have never seen such a lack of moral responsibility or lack of conscience as these individuals displayed, even laughing and joking in their holding cells,before the formal charges were read to them.Typical teenagers? I don't think so. Spoiled brats, probably,broken homes, likely poor upbringing, definitely,but, are these valid excuses for the the out and out cruelty and complete disregard for another human being's life these people showed? NEVER.

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10. 

    4/29/08

    daniel23

    social nihilism takes its toll again.

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