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Show lv fc Prevent Delinquency Parents need to be taught how to properly convey love and stability within a framework of freedom, Juvenile Court Judge John Farr Larson said in a meeting of the Crime and Delinquency Task Force on February 15. Dean King, Task Force Chairman, introduced Judge Larson and Judge Judith S. Whitmer to task force members and interested residents. Judge Larson dealt with the goals and philosophies of the Juvenile Court, empasizing the urgent need for better methods of dealing with juveniles in trouble. He explained that the Juvenile Court system was born out of a negative reaction to the criminal code in relation to young people. The first Juvenile Court was established in Cook County, Illinois, in 1899. He outlined the three basic purposes of the Juvenile Court system as follows: 1. To protect the rights of the individual. In other words, to apply the due process of law in juvenile cases. 2. To protect the public. There is a difference of opinion on how to best protect the public. Some argue all offenders should be locked up, others can see the need for treatment and rehabilation in a more open setting. Judge Larson maintains that you can best protect the public by developing an individual to be a responsible citizen. He sees this development growing out of an individual establishing Exterior controls will well-rounde- self-contro- d, l. work, but once removed, an individual must have his own controls to function successfully in our society. 3. To help each child develop to his fullest potential in freedom and happiness. This objective proves to be the most challenging for the Juvenile Court. It was emphasized that most children appearing bofore Juvenile Court have tremendous potential but need special help to deal with specific problems. Judge Larson cited examples of children coming before his Court, stating there are basically four different types of juvenile offenders. The first is the child who is doing wrong kinds of things but doesn't realize they are wrong. The second type is a child who is acting fairly normal for his age group, but parents or other adults in t to his the community behavior, frequent changes of mood over-reac- or, in some cases, his appearance. The third child is acting out a response to his environment. This would be the child who runs away from an intolerable home situation. Probably the most obvious offender is the fourth type which is an emotionally ill or sick child. He acts irrationaly and is not really responsible for his actions. The Neighborhood Probation Units, funded by Model Cities, have been one of the most successful with juvenile Larson said. The offenders. Judge units operate close to the child's home and provide more intensive involvement with the probation in dealing programs officer. He stressed the need for a short-terfacility and for specially trained foster parents. Foster parents like natural parents often find it difficult to accept some forms of behavior such as stealing or lying. "We love children as long as they are good. call this 'ify' love, he said. I with no consistency. Any of these ways can result in behavior problems with a child," he said. A child must have limits but be able to make his own decisions within that framework. His feeling was in order to prevent juvenile delinquency,' we must teach these skills of showing love and allowing freedom for growth to parents. Martha Turpin, Task Force Judge Whitmer addressed herself to the need for specialized residential treatment centers. She sees such centers as facilities when the State Industrial School or present group homes and ranches seem not to be the best solution. The State Division of Mental Health has set up a committee of Juvenile Court officials and people working with present facilities to determine the need for short-tercenters and the best location for such centers. Such a facility would provide schooling and treatment in a Assistant, brought up the problems in dealing with agencies which seem system and in the community. The act of suspending a truant student to concern themselves more with working with the child and not the parents. Judge Larson said this and parents sometimes encourage and excuse truacy. The purpose of the Juvenile Detention Center was explained as well as the basic regulations for senseless. The parent must be involved to bring about any change in the behavior of the child. However, he also explained that many parents try too hard, talk too much and this overwhelms and confuses the child. Both Judges discussed briefly the school situ ation and what changes are needed in the school dealing with children brought to the Center. Task Force members expressed a willingness to work more closely with the Juvenile Court developing approximately 25 youngsters. The need has been established but no location has yet been selected. "It really shocked me to see the number of kids who come before the Court from home situations where no one is really at fault. The parents and the child simply can not live together and function normally," projects and programs. Communicating Difficulties Arise From Suspicion she said. King expressed the feeling of the Task Force to get involved in preventive type programs and asked for suggestions from the Judges. Judge Larson said he felt the parent-chilrelationship must be strengthened for this would be the and Distrust d best prevention to delinquent One of the most popular ways of describing our problems today is to use the term "communication problem" or "communication gap." What do we mean by these words? Are we speaking of a language barrier, or does the problem go behavior. Ways to accomplish this would be in teaching the tremendous force of love as a motivating and stablizing factor. He stated that parents are operating out of fear and insecurity and this, rather than the love, is conveyed to the child. Very little is being done at present to change these attitudes, he over-protectiv- e "As lay down a smoke screen of accusations by crying "racist" or "bigot" and hide our own biases by throwing suspicion on others. In my own experience have found that those who use these, and other si mi liar inflamatory terms, the most frequently are usually those who are most guilty of the implications. The easiest thing in the world is to point yourfinger at the faults of others and find ways to criticize their short comings. The most difficult thing, and the most needed, is to be able to see our own faults and deal effectively with correcting our own biases and purifying our own hearts. As you can see these are internal problems resulting from suspicion and insecurity. No one can deny that there are reasons for suspicion and distrust in relations between citizens and government and this is very regrettable. Someone or some goup must begin now an attempt to restore the credibility between these groups. We must find a way to solve our problems by less volatile means I deeper than language? There can be little doubt that problems arise from the use of words which carry local or advised. personal interpretations, but it is my conviction that this is not the source find it a of our major problems. do not have general rule that parent, you can he very permissive or very restrictive or both a "net salt lake difficulty understanding the mode! neighborhood news volume one Publication of the Model borhood News is made Neigh-New- am in communications of those sympathy with or with whom have established some bond. The major I s communication difficulty arises from my own suspicion and distrust When distrust the individual who is . possible I through a grant from the ment of Housing and Urban opment. Depart-supervisio- Devel-Cit- talking, virtually every word he says becomes ambiguous, oi is capable of double meaning. then attempt to pin him down to some specific meanings but find my task impossible because words and a 1 Marlene Marie Young, Editor Roy Lauritzen, Circulation Manager Donetta Fluker, Editorial Assistnr Joint Board of Commissioners Ralph Y. McClure, Chairman Phillip R. Blomquist Stephen Harmsen in controlled environment for I The Model NEIGHBORHOOD is a publication of the Salt Lake Model Cities Agency under the of the Joint Board of and County Commissioners yvith editorial offices located at 19 East 21st South, Bldg. 5, Salt Lake City, Utah 841 15. negative behavior often is Conrad Harrison Jennings Phillips William E. Dunn I meanings are endless. My point is this, our major problems do not lie in the area of and in a more Christian and civilized manner. It is absolutely futile to expect others to act better than we do ourselves. Our communication gap will become a veritable chasm words and phrases but rather they lie in our hearts and feelings toward one another. We often attempt to cover our own prejudice by accusing all vo,-w others of homn unless we find ways of reducing , 4 i V nvr in n md restoring trust. I |