This story is a couple of months old, but it should still scare us all senseless . . .
For years, when kids in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania were arrested for minor offenses (such as stealing loose change from cars or writing prank notes) they often found themselves outside the American justice system. Many were denied lawyers. Their hearings lasted only a couple of minutes. And quite a few were sentenced to months-long prison terms.
How bad did it get? One girl was sent to a wilderness boot camp for creating a Myspace page that made fun of her assistant principal.
Why were these kids denied justice? Because two corrupt Pennsylvania judges were being paid for every kid they sent to one of two private juvenile detention facilities.
Both the judges will now be spending a few years behind bars. But this case offers an important lesson. Just because you're a kid doesn't mean you don't have any rights. Learn what they are--and make sure no one ever abuses them!
Read the whole horrible story here.
31 comments:
Yeah! Whoo! Ya speak the truth!
wow thats harsh
That is really sick.
One right I have that I rarely take advantage of is the right to remain silent. ;)
that's so sad. today i was at my grandma's, raking leaves and i found this giant glob of worms all tangled up...it was by far the sickest thing i ever saw!!!
same here Nellie! i am:
* loud in class
* talk too much in class, to the extent where people start to stare
* was called a chatterbox in front of the principal by my evil 2nd grade teacher... thanks a lot Mrs. B.
* love to stand out....
so i definitely know my rights, once i convinced a teacher not to give me lunch detention, by only saying how much i admired her moldy... i mean " pretty" sweater, and saw one at the mall that i wanted too. fun........:] i love being a girl sometimes, sorry bout the long comment people!!!!
sorry... but Ananka, i have been gone for a while, and i have seen that people enjoyed talking about twilight in YOUR book's posts. i am sorry but i feel that if they want to talk about twilight then they should just go on the site, not bore us with opinions of something completely off subject. btw, i love your books.... will you come to the western part of the US soon, me and my friends love you, we all started to write books because you inspired us!
hey, not to be a bother, but can you do a post about how to study/ remember stuff... i have a huge test called the CRT's next week and i hoped you could help me... thanks for your help!!!
btw.. sorry about the long post!!!!
hey, i have a question..... there's this boy in my PE class, all my friends can't stand him, but his on my team... and i think i might like him.... any advise..... i am really new at this......:[ sorry to bother.....
i feel really lame now... just forget that i wrote that comment...thxs
I heard about that.
Those kids lifes are ruined because of some money.
Anon: Don't feel bad. And as for advice, if you like him, whatever. My last two crushes have been on people no on else liked, but everyone get's over it evenutaly and if you like him, go for it.
Ahhh.tat sucks.. And I live in Pennsylvania
Both my parents are lawyers, I don't think I'll be forgetting my rights!
...But actually, kids don't have that many rights.
kids don't officially own anything until you 18 everything belongs to you parents. My mom told me that one day when i was complaining about not having something.
wow, i like the picture too!
Anon: UU right go 4 it!!!
-LD
that is one of the worst things I've heard all week
Anonymous 3 : You rock socks! very genius with the whole "Love your sweater" thing.
Anonymous with the boy prob : Hmmm, that is a problem. Well if I where you, I'd make sure that I actualy Am head over heels for the subject. Then if I am i would only tell my BEST friend. You know the one who understands everything I tell her. Though, it really doesn't matter what other people think.
question...was the ogopogo monster ever found? it's past February!
Kid's rights!! X3 I'm writing this down...
Anonymous #4: I agree with you. I know Twilight is a good book, but you will get more people to discuss it with you on a Twilight website or forum. :3
Anonymous #6: Don't feel embarassed, it's NORMAL for a girl to like a guy at this age [unlike me, I have NO interest in guys... Except beating them up XD]. It's best to make sure the guy likes you first :3
Last Anonymous: No! It was so disappointing! They thought they might have discovered a dead baby ogopogo, but it was just a rotting salmon! I should boycott that show.
Hey Kiki,thought you might be interested in this:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article6168942.ece
Oh. My. Gosh. That's awful! Good thing the judges are in jail now!
That is sick. Totally sick
There are some crazies out there that will do anything for money. I can't imagine being one of those people, but they exist.
How did they think they'd get away with it? How humiliating..
Kitty: LOL beating them up! We have that in common.
I just wanted to say that I'm back from overseas and... my cat is fatter! It is so amazing! He's like a lion now and finally I can cuddle him like a teddy intead of a skinny furball! YAAYYYYY!!!!
Anonymous raking the leaves: How cute! (But slimey. I hate creepy crawlies). But so cute of you to mention it.
Anonymous about the Twilight situation: I believe some of us just want to share our Irregular Twilight thoughts with Irregulars only, or something.
I support every one of you, though.
Anonymous with the long comment: Just letting you know, I do not mind about your long comments. :)
Mine are very long too.
Lady of the Dance: Girl Power!
I don't understand why parents force children to get married at such a young age. What is the advantage? I can think of a lot of DISadvantages. Poor children!
Well, I don't know what is so bad agaisnt a wilderness boot comp, but then I've always been interested in the Marines.But corrupt is corrupt.
And since we're handing out boy advice, I know this boy who I almost never see, but like alot. But I don't know if he knows I'm alive. I think I wish he did. What do I do?
Nellie's right. That's sick. What's even sicker is that it happens all over the world.
You need to get a game on this website. I like to read, byt some action-packed Kiki Strike game would be nice.
Are you going to have another contest of some sort?
hey anonymous, (last one) to be honest i have never had a crush, but my friends have, so i know some tips:
= make yourself known to him
= join an activity you like and maybe he does too.
= if he has little siblings, ask to babysit.
= if all else fails and he doesn't like you, toilet paper his house. ( true story, i have wacky friends)
-LD
Anonymus on putting in a game: I agree. Not necessarily action packed though...maybe something that will improve your memory & concentration &...wait, no, that's a little too "eau d'ecole". Just, not everything has to be action packed...
--EQ
Post scriptum: now I know how to put a name on top of the comment!!! I think...
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