Juvenile Crises are a Downstream Symptom of an Upstream Problem

The juvenile crime crisis is a downstream symptom of an upstream problem. In my mind, we need leaders who are willing to rise above a respective party and work on both sides of the aisle if we want to exact meaningful change in the U.S. with regard to the juvenile crime crisis. 

Local and state leaders who are willing to do so ought to be drafted to run at state and national offices, where they can implement legislation enacting checks and balances in our systems of law, specifically relative to liability and litigation. 

In my private clinical practice in Westminster, I operated as a clinical psychotherapist for many years and encountered a revolving door of parents reluctant or at a loss of how to effectively discipline or train in well balanced productive behaviors in their children. At times, parents were afraid of their kids, who would threaten to call Child Protective Services (CPS) on them. I also saw myriad teachers who felt unsupported and overwhelmed by behavior problems in the classroom, and who reported that they had little or no recourse to address the complicated terrain of out-of-control kids. 

The juvenile crime crisis played out on the large screen this week in the national media, as it was reported that a 15-year-old student in Michigan threw a chair at a teacher, hitting her in the head and knocking her down. The incident was recorded by another student, and the educator was sent to the hospital. School systems and parents alike require additional protections in the face of out-of-control youth. 

In my view, liability issues have eclipsed the ability of parents, teachers and more broadly school systems to effectively do their respective jobs at home and at school. Until the issue of liability is addressed, I fear we will see increased juvenile crime crises by an empowered youth populations. 

These are not intractable problems but do require strong leadership, a leadership comprised of courage. Showing a willingness to work both sides of the aisle summons up an uncommon courage today, one that ought to be nurtured, cultivated, and supported, as young energetic politicians run for and are elected to county, state, and national offices.