for harsher penalties Windsor high school students discuss crime and punishment HE PENALTIES for teenage criminals are too soft. By Anna Marie D'Angelo News Reporter That was the cny.sensus of opin- ion of a thoughtful Grade 12 Windsor school law class curing a recent visit by the News, “Every little kid has done shoplifting. A non-violent crime can be treated,” said student Otis Perrick. “But assault — how can you hurt a person?” Some of the Windsor students, taught by teacher Tony Kapusta, were part of the age group that falls under the jurisdiction of the contro- versial Young Offenders Act (YOA). The YOA covers youths aged 12 to 17. During an often noisy YOA debate at the school, the students were mostly unsympa- thetic to their peers Ciearged or convicted of violent crimes. One student said the consequences of a shoplifting conviction should be different from an assault convic- tion. Anotker pointed out that a teen suspect “does not care” when he stabs another youth in a way that could result in death. Several students said teen stab- bing suspects should be responsible for their actions in the same way as adult suspects are. So was there a difference between a teenager committing a crime ana an adult committing the same crime? Said one femiate student, “1 think the difference is that the older you get. the more you realize what you are doing.” Six teens out of the 24-student class said they have had dealings with the police. One admitted he was carrying a pocket knife for pro- tection. Another, a male at the back of the class, said he “laughed at the law.” Said a teen, also sitting in the back, “You can't get away with a speeding ticket, but you can get away with assault.” Most students contributed to the sometimes lively discussion that, at times, as with all YOA discussions, got on to subjects of crime preven- tion and the unfair blame placed on all youths because of the criminality 66 Yeu can’t get away with a speeding ticket, but you can get away with assault, 99 ~Windsor school student of a few. A student said police, like many people, stereotype teens depending on their clothes and choice of auto- mobile. “T know a guy that had his (base- bal!) hat on backwards and a cop pulled him over and started to has- sle him for nothing. The guy was an adult too,” said the student. Two students started a small argument after one said everyone should get a chance when it came to a YOA first offence; the other stu- dent said no one should get a first chance in the case of an assault con- viction or any “brutality.” Some students called for the death penalty and torture for youths who commit murder. Several said they were against reporting the names of accused or convicted youths. Said a female stu- dent, “I don’t think it’s good because it hurts the family just as much.” Another student said he knows of young ‘offenders who brag about News reports of their activities. “They go, look at this, this is me,” he said. Two — students claimed accused youths intimidated them so they would not testify in court. The would-be witnesses said there were no consequences for those threats. “They say stuff like ‘I know where you live’ and stuff; you go on the stand and you are dead,” said one male. Another student said people are reluctant to testify because after tak- ing the stand, “you have to watch your back” for about five years. unday, June 26, A few students voiced concerns about probation sentences for vio- lent crimes that leave a convicted youth free in the community to con- template retaliation. Said another girl, “You are not going to say who it was, even though you know who it is becaust: first of all, you are not going to be protected. “Second of all, they (police, court officials) don't do anything and you are scared every time you go out that something is going to happen to you.” The students said youth court should provide significant conse- quences so teens who threaten will “think twice about it.” Meanwhile, two students said the media were biased and promot- ed the notion that all youths were criminals. They criticized newspapers for putting bad news about youths on the front page and burying good news about teens in subsequent pages. The Law 12 class spent a day in B.C. Supreme Court last fall as part of their studies. Their impression: “slow.” This is the final instalment of a three-part North Shore News report on the Young Offenders Act by News reporter Anna Marie D'Angelo. a rrently; NEWS photo Mike Waketisid WINDSOR SECONDARY students completing Grade 12 recently expressed their views on the Young Offenders Act and how they feel about their peers who are Involved in criminal activity. ins Drugs at root of youth problem, addict’s parent says HE PARENT of a young offend- er says that family problems are -4i. not always the reason teenagers get in trouble with the law. By Anna Marie D’Angelo News Reporter The West Vancouver mother said the problem, in her case, was drugs. * “Our son is an addict,” she said. The 44-year-old woman cannot be identi- fied because her son’s identity would be revealed, which would contravene the Young Offenders Act (YOA). The woman was angered by a story in the June 12 instalment of the News’ YOA series in which probation, court and police officials all pointed to family problems as the root cause of most teenage criminal behavior. “We've done everything.” said the moth- CALL US: 983-2208 er. “Our responsibility is to love cur child. No matter how hard we tried, he would con- front us and drive us away.” Her son, now 17, wasn’t an addict at age 12 or 13, but there were signs she sees in hindsight that relate to subsequent drug use. She said the boy went from alcohol to marijuana to LSD. Along with the drug use came frequent brushes with the flaw and appearances in youth court. She said lawyers, probation officers, social workers, police, etc., know “zilch” about what a family goes through when a teenager decides to let drugs become a major force in his tife. “Parents that go through the whole thing are so distraught. They (parents) have to be helped too,” said the woman, ‘speaking for herself and her 45-year-old husband. The couple have a 19-year-old daughter and a 13-year-old son, who, the mother said, haven't gone the same way as their brother. She said if court-related workers would jook at the “core” repeat young offenders, they would find that most had drug problems. The mother said the youth court system fails repeat teenage offenders. “They (accused youths) know exactly how to play the system,” she said. “Kids know they need 10 or 12 breaches before a prosecutor will take them to court.” And punishment, she said, needs to be handed out closer to the actual incident to be effective for a young person. From her experience, she said a drug- addicted teen cannot be disciplined. “A seven-year-old, you can put in his room.” she said. “A 13-year-old put in his room goes out the window when you are asleep at night, even if it’s two storeys down.” She said court-related officials that place the responsibility on parents should know that a parent has “absolutely no control” over the activities or personality of a drug addict. She said her family was a victim of her teenager along with the community. “The drugs lead them to crime. After they have robbed you of as much as they can, they look someplace else," she said. The mother said her son has gotten “the minimum treatment” for his drug problem while in custody. Although she feels youth court is general- ly ineffective for repeat offenders, she agrees with the YOA provision prohibiting publish- ing names: “All it does is bring shame to the faraily,” said the woman. “They (accused teens) don't care about their families. They don’t even care about themselves.” Her son is currently in a full-recovery drug program in New Westminster. The woman said most residents are not aware of the drug activity in West Vancouver: “There is ignorance out there.” THIS WEEK’S QUESTION: Do you support the position of striking community health nurses?