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statistics
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experiences ||
The co-sponsors of this event suggest the following story angles:
- A look back 100 years ago to treatment of juveniles in Massachusetts
and a comparison to today. Has the state become more or less
of a "kind and gentle "parent"?
- Cover harsh sentencing and public reaction to it; this is
rarely covered the way lenient sentences are.
- Spotlight on the impact of overcharging on juveniles from
accepting pleas to being detained before trial.
- Trace several arrests on a given day in different communities
(urban, suburban, rural).
- A story on police attitudes towards parents and youth in different
communities.
- What is the purpose of probation? It used to be akin to social
work; its current incarnation focuses less on providing services,
and more on supervising youth to report them to law enforcement.
It is unclear how much of the work of the Probation Department
is focused on providing youth services, diverting youth from
trouble, and increasing their chances for success.
- Kids' views of police "cultural sensitivity training"
and how "community policing" is working in Boston.
How integrated into the work of the police are station-house
diversion programs?
- How does privatization of police in housing projects affect
youth? What legal
regulations, oversight and accountability are private security
details required to meet?
- Conditions of confinement of youth in DYS: profile how well
DYS meets its mandate to provide services to children. Is DYS
the dumping ground for youth DSS refuses to handle?
- Interview judges about their view of the parents of the children
who come before them.
- Overview of the impact of school-based arrests on the school
environment, truancy and failure rates, and related issues.
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