I'm unclear if anyone thinks that I am promoting the idea that the 15 year old has been sexually abused. I'm not. None of us has a clue as to her history--everything is conjecture at this point. Prior sexual abuse is never an "excuse" for the crime. Never.
That said, what I've been looking at and questioning is this teen's upbringing and live experience. Is she traumatized, was she exposed prenatally to drugs/alcohol, has she witnessed violence, was she born with any sort of cognitive deficit. Does she have a support system, an intact family, is she engaged in her education? All of these are important components of her life, mitigating factors IMO--not excuses--but mitigating factors. Just as a judge considers them, I also do.
My point, all along, is that the environments in which we (as a society, not WSers) are raising many of our impressionable children is not conducive IMO to raising healthy adults. I know many of you are very vocal about your own ability to rise above abuse and neglect and I applaud you and admire you deeply. However, I'm really questioning how many people on WS have really lived with or spent time children who don't have that "moral fiber" or built in conscience due to the factors I listed above. It's a whole different ball game and everything you know and hold sacred goes right out the window when those factors have occurred and a moral base and attachment to others have failed to develop. Simply locking up this child will do nothing more than to keep society safe from her for a set number of years. While that has value, we still must look to the future and consider her condition, post detention. We also must look at her crime and determine if there is anything we, as a society, can learn from this. Can we do something to protect the next 7 year old?
The reason I brought up Jaycee and Elizabeth (and I'm sorry I did) is that I was trying to make the point that even bright, beloved little girls can be mind controlled in such a way to stymie them from getting help when they need it. Imagine what it would be like living in an apt. filled with drug dealing, fractured families and carrying around the monkey on your back of prenatal drug exposure and/or neglect? kbl, please note that I am in no way comparing those young women to this girl. I am NOT. I was trying to make a point.
ITA, that most abusers grow up to be fine and loving parents--thank God. I do believe that our most fragile children, however, who are abused can be destined to a life of violence, drug use, early pregnancy, and yes--child abuse. Read the studies, study the statistics. Ask me. I've linked over and over to the US Children's Bureau site. Peruse it.
I ask that each of you who are survivors and who are fine parents or appropriately caring for others' children, consider what made a difference for you. Something must have. Was it a loving parent, an inner resolve, your faith?
The point I am valiantly struggling to make is that your reality is not everyone's reality. I am sorely concerned for all the children (yes even the males, of course) involved in this horrid crime.