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Show Lakeside Review, Wednesday, February 27, 1985 IB Troubled Past Sets Jasons Future When a Boy Goes Wrong Sometimes APRIL ADAMS Review Staff At the age of 14, Jason can easily recall when his life of crime began. It started when he was almost 6. One night, with another boy, he broke into a store and took hun- dreds of dollars worth of mer- chandise, Now, eight years later, Jason, whose IQ is rated at more than 15, has committed numerous thefts, been charged with assault, destruction of property and sexual abuse of a child. Lounging back in a green easy chair at his current foster home, d the slightly built, youth is likeable and speaks quietly at first. Looking at Jason (not his real name), its hard at first to believe g this child is known as an obnoxious troublemaker. I can go from quiet to really loud and obnoxious, like everyone will tell you, he said, taking a long dangling earring out of his ear and stuffing it in his pocket. I'll start talking funny and dance and act weird and stuff. It gets on people's nerves but gets attention, he said, illustrating his point by flapping his arms and legs about and making meow 1 dusty-haire- gentle-lookin- noises. I of attention, get the good kind so people are laughing with me, not at me. His freckled face with its elfish, upturned nose, takes on a wistful look as he speaks of his mother. Though he has been in foster homes since the age of 9, Jason still looks forward to weekends when he can see her. He dismisses her alcoholism with a wave of his hand and believes the many beatings he says he took fro:. stepfathers has been worth seeing and being with her. He adds defensively that she doesn't hurt him any more if he docs something wrong. Nope, my mom doesn't whip me anymore, though I don't know why, he said. One of his stepfathers used to get drunk and beat up his mother, he recalled, in a voice devoid of emotion. Then me and my brother would gang up on him and pull him off her. Then hed try to beat us up too. But he split a while ago. While ruminating on the past, he recalled one incident when he was about 4. His stepfather was sitting at a table, tapping on an empty beer can. This was a signal for the child to fetch him another beer, Jason explained. Photo Illustration By Rodney W. Wright "JASON receives counsel from his foster mom. His life of crime began when he was 6. There must have been about two cases of beer, he said, with a smile. I think I had tried to drink most of it and poured a lot Stereotypes Dont Fit Delinquent The stereotyped picture of a juvenile delinquent is just that. A picture. Most people envision a teenager of low IQ who is unattractive in appearance and behavior, said Bud Brumley, probation officer in juvenile court. But the stereotype is the exception rather than the rule. Most youths appearing in juvenile court have an above average IQ, are usually extremely good looking and possess high potential, he said. But usually after one, two or three appearances in juvenile court, 85 percent of youths usually quit the life of crime, Brumley said. He classified Jason as a chronic juvenile delinquent." e He's not in the sense of the type of offenses he has committed, but in the number of times he has committed offenses,? he said. Brumley worked with Jason as his probation officer for a number of years. The first time Jason got in real trouble with the law, after he committed a burglary when he hard-cor- A was 6, Brumley said he put Jason's older brother on probation mainly to get at Jason. We usually don't put first offenders on probation, especially a Probation is counseling where the probation officer can work with the whole family, he explained. It didn't appear at the time that we needed to take Jason out of the home or give him extra counseling. But hindsight tells us we should have." "No matter what type or how much counseling he receives. Id still say there's about a chance Jason will change, the probation fifty-f- ifty officer said. He described the youth as sharp as a tack. I'm fairly optimistic about him, because of his intellectual capability, he said. But the articulate, street-wis- e Jason may figure out he isnt leading his life the best ble way, or he may just get smarter and getting arrested for crimes he may commit future, Brumley continued. either possi- avoid in the Product of His Environment A child is generally a product of his or her environment. At least that is what Patricia Ziegler, Jason's parole officer, firmly believes. Ziegler, who is required to see Jason twice a month, describes him as possessing a high IQ, though he doesnt use it to his best advantage. He gets attention by being obnoxious, and he is aware of this problem. Yet he can be very likeable and outgoing, says Patricia Ziegler. But especially in a setting with his peers, he turns obnoxious. He doesnt know how to relate to them in any other way. She noted his problems in the home environment as a youngster. His mother lost parental rights a few years ago, with lack of care and abuses reported in the home. Yet these children keep a tie in spite of how bad the situation is at home," she said. His whole world was made up of total inconsistencies. Where one rule may exist for one day in his house, another completely opposite rule might be in effect the next day, she said. This has resulted in Jason constantly testing and pushing guidelines to the limit to find securities and structure, she said. As a young child, Jason also had to assume responsibility for himself all along the way, Ms. Zielger says. With his history of abuse, he tries to get back at the world, she said. He has shown little remorse for his actions, and sees himself as small and ineffective. Picturing himself this way, he often plays victim" and manipulates other people. He often baits youths his age and gets them into power struggles, she said. His prognosis isnt optimistic, she said. With enough counseling, she feels he can make some headway, but right now, Jason isnt moving that rapidly. My big concern is Jason going back to his mother. He progresses in the foster homes, but after he is at his mothers for a while, he gets into his old patterns. A few years ago, Jason said, he was messing around with !a slingshot. While shooting rock?, he saw an old man poking through a dumpster. people. One rock hit a tree and hit his Though he was caught for that somehand used steal he to by accident. He started callburglary, me names and chasing me. he said, usually day, thing every ing After running a while, Jason toy cars or candy. I dont want to be in trouble, said, he thought he lost the man. and when I get caught, its not but when rounding a corner of a fun. But when I get away with it, house, the old man jumped opt it feels good. suddenly with a long piece of hose in his hand. He said he feels bad about stealI ducked. He would have Then I'd run into the house ing some things in a way. me upside the face, b(it free cracked than for rather it Id would mom and get slap my crying I me how hit If for counted work in the back cause; I it. if me and tell me I'd shut my mouth I wouldn't get beat up so many time I stole things, theyd moved. I found a rock and shot I much and then she would send probably execute me, he said, him in the head with it. looks He and a with noticeably away me to my room. laugh. After stealing a toy car or other withdraws when speaking of othGod, Id always have someone beating me up. But now I ain't small object, Jason said, it would er incidents in his youth. My when he was about 15. gonna let them sit there and slip out of his mind that he brother, I was about 7, used to do and back. me. while Ill a after stole the item, and fight pound I Laughing, he tells of a girl he would think big deal, I took those things to me. hated hifn him." ; now but Ive was forgiven he broke. "She whose nose it. Big deal, I got it now. on for about went The abuse me beat to and up. big trying He says money interests him two You should see her nose. It was years, Jason said. But lie most. Its my favorite thing doesnt touch me like that now; so little before, now its all big. I the have. I want to be rich and be to Were really close. When I was tell her thats the way it goes." I love a programmer. computer in one special school, they made For fun, Jason said, he used to spending money and buying new me talk about it. It didnt help. steal. clothes, which he didnt get of- They think if you try to shut it I started when I was about 5. ten as a child, he added. out and forget it, youll do it to It was my favorite thing to do. It some other kid. have to he used He also admits was real scary when I got caught, But it just makes it worse beclean." a I problem keeping but like scary things, they excite I didnt know it was bad (to be cause when you talk about it, you me. might get urges, he said. He didnt realize theft was dirty). all over me. When he found out, boy, he whipped me good. Of course, he used to beat me up when he wasnt drunk too, he quickly added. While still a child, Jason said, he was beat up all the time. I always used to smart off to people in the neighborhood and call the Mexicans dirty names. They would get me and beat me upside and down, he said, describing the scenes with his fists clenched. wrong at first, he said. When I broke into that store when I was 6, I didnt know it was wrong. I figured it was a way to get back at UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY Can Make Time Count Enroll now in one of the following Evening Programs being offered by Utah State University in the OgdenHill Air Force Base area. Masters Programs Master of Business Administration (MBA) Master of Science in Electrical Engineering. Master of Social Sciences (emphasis in Public Administration - evening or weekend) Master of Science in Computer Science Bachelors Programs Computer Sc lence Electrical Engineering Occupational Safety Liberal Arts Additional Programs Real Estate License Preparation Certificate for Educators AdmimstrativeEndorsement Registration Spring Quarter Registration will be held on March 13, 14, 1985 at Hill Air Force Base and at Weber State College on March 12. Classes begin March 26, 1985. For Further Information Contact: Dr. Terry Teigeler, USU Program Director Building 368, Room 24 2849 DPE 6 HAFB.Utah 84056 (801) 777-353- |