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TITLE Second Chances: Giving Kids a Chance To Make a Better Choice. Juvenile Justice Bulletin. INSTITUTION Department of Justice, Washington, DC. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. REPORT NO NCJ-181680 PUB DATE 2000-05-00 NOTE 29p. CONTRACT 1999JFFX1002 AVAILABLE FROM U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Programs, Washington, DC 20531. PUB TYPE Reports Descriptive (141) EDRS PRICE MF01/PCO2 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Adolescents; *Childrens Rights; *Delinquent Rehabilitation; *Juvenile Courts; Youth Problems IDENTIFIERS *Juvenile Crime

ABSTRACT In commemoration of the juvenile court's centennial, the Justice Policy Institute of the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice and the Children and Family Justice Center of Northwestern University School of Law profiled 25 individuals who were petitioned into juvenile court as serious delinquents when they were young and then turned their lives around and made something of themselves. The book "Second Chances--100 Years of the Children's Court: Giving Kids a Chance to Make a Better Choice" is a result of that work. The narratives featured in the book highlight fundamental principles of the juvenile court that helped these youth prosper in adulthood, including protection from stigmatization, rehabilitation, and individualized attention. All 25 profiles are living testaments to the resiliency of the vision of a group of women whose reform efforts in the 1880s led to the founding of the juvenile court. This bulletin highlights 12 of the book's profiles. The 12 profiles serve to illustrate the major themes of the stories. (SM)

Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. OF EDUCATION U.S. Department of Justice OkjcsebfDEPARTMENTat onal Re Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION Office of Justice Programs CENTER (ERIC) This document has been reproducedas Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention received from the person or organization originating it. Minor changes have been made to if: BiligERIEEPEtiTIMER4riEeIEE g;.! if. ill: improve reproduction quality.

°Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy. J

John Wilson,ActingAdministrator ahy2000

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miwitmarts Illiglfar:1;2-2.-,Xii.a1M86-41111111/1 Second Chances: From the Administrator The juvenile justice system is Giving Kids a Chance founded on the idea that youth are different from adults. Based on the concept of parens patriaethe State To Make a Better Choice as parentjuvenile courts were established to provide youth a chance to make a better choice than delinquency. More than simply providing another chance, juvenile In commemoration of the juvenile court's Introduction justice professionals work to enable centennial, the Justice Policy Institute of the youth to make the kinds of decisions Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice They are prosecutors, politicians, poets, that will ensure a better future for and the Children and Family Justice Center and probation officers; academics, attor- themselves and their communities. of Northwestern University School of Law neys, athletes, and authors; students, profiled 25 individuals who were petitioned stockbrokers, and salespeople; football As in any human endeavor, the into juvenile court as serious delinquents players and firefighters. They have rehabilitation of juvenile offenders when they were young and then turned worked at the highest levels of govern- has its successes and failures. The their lives around and made something of ments, as advisors to Presidents, and in successes, however, are more themselves. The book Second Chances- the U.S. Senate. They have prosecuted, frequent than commonly believed and 100 Years of the Children's Court: Giving defended, and judged their fellow men can be remarkable in their scope. as Kids A Chance To Make A Better Choice and women. They have achieved unprec- this Bulletin illustrates. Drawing on is a result of that work. edented feats on the field of athletic com- Second Chances-100 Years of the petition. They have served their country Children's Court: Giving Kids a Research shows that the vast majority of honorably in the military. Chance To Make a Better Choice, the males break the law at some point during Yet when they were kids, every one of Bulletin profiles successful "gradu- their youth and that the vast majority stop ates" of the juvenile justice system. doing so as they mature (Elliott et al., them was in trouble with the law. But for 1983). Thus, the Second Chances project the protections and rehabilitative focus of The narratives highlight fundamental staff expected to be able to identify a large the juvenile courta uniquely American principles of the juvenile court that number of former delinquents who made invention that was the brainchild of a helped these youth prosper in good. Even at that, the 25 stories told in group of Chicago women activists a cen- adulthood: protection from stigmati- Second Chances are surprising in their tury agomany of them would simply not zation, rehabilitation, and individual- scopean indication that many young be where they are today. And most of ized attention. The profiled individuals people adjudicated delinquent need not them would be the first to admit it. credit the second chance provided by lose hope of living successful lives. The America's juvenile court is celebrating its the juvenile justice system with 12 randomly chosen profiles republished 100th anniversary. In 1882, John Altgeld, helping them to turn their lives in this Bulletin are inspiring examples of an aspiring Chicago lawyer who would around. Capitalizing on that opportu- individuals whose lives reflect the juvenile later become Governor of Illinois, toured nity, each, in turn, has helped others court's purpose and achievements. the House of Corrections in Chicago and through positive contributions to discovered that hundreds of children, in- society. cluding children as young as 8 years of John J. Wilson age, were jailed alongside adults. Ap- Acting Administrator palled by the tragic circumstances of r In O 2 these children, Chicago reformers Jane watchful eyes of trained and sensitive Individualized attention. Perhaps most Addams, Lucy Flower, and Julia Lathrop judges and probation officers in a juris- important, the juvenile justice system is encouraged State lawmakers to create a diction that was premised on rehabilita- likely to bring troubled youth in contact separate justice system for children. Be- tion rather than merely punishment, with individuals who are committed to fore women could vote and while segrega- minimized future stigma, and separated helping rather than simply punishing. Pro- tion was still the law of the land, these juveniles from adults in confinement. In file subjects Terry Ray, Carolyn Gibbered, efforts led to the creation of the first juve- the juvenile justice system, court pro- Sally Henderson, and Andre Dawkins all nile court in the world, which opened its ceedings were informal, nonadversarial, emphasized that peoplereal people doors on July 3, 1899, on Chicago's West and private; the language of adult crimi- whose names they could recallwere Side. The new court was one part of a nal court was modified; and a goal was to there for them again and again when they comprehensive series of century-shaping protect children from long-term damage needed a helping hand. The attention and reforms affecting children, inspired by theto their future prospects. expectations of these individuals made all work of Jane Addams and her associates the difference. at the Hull House social settlement. TheseThe juvenile court is a far from perfect reforms included compulsory education institution, but its core tenetsprotec- Another chance. Finally, several lives re- laws for children, abolition of child labor, tion from stigmatizing consequences, counted inSecond Chancesspeak to the and development of playgrounds and rehabilitation, individualized attention, importance of simply giving kids repeated parks as recreational spaces. a second chance for kids, and separation chances to turn their lives around and of children from adults in jails and room to grow up, sometimes on their The reformers' ideas spread like wildfire, lockupsare as vital now as they have own. Olympic Gold Medallist Bob Beacon, leading to the rapid development of juve- ever been. The themes that recur in the poet Luis Rodriguez, professor and Juve- nile courts in 46 States and the District of stories of the 25Second Chanceprofile nile Probation Commission President Joe Columbia by 1925. As America pioneered subjects illustrate the importance of Julian, and Columbia University Law Re- the jurisprudence of a more humane ap- these tenets. view editor Lawrence Wu were all gang proach to youth crime, many other coun- members who had multiple contacts with tries established separate court systems Protection from stigmatization. Fire Cap- law enforcement before they changed di- for children.' Today, every State has a dis- tain James N. Short, who once broke his rection. For some, their turnabouts came tinct court or jurisdiction for dependent, neck in the line of duty, was nearly denied as a result of introspection rather than neglected, or delinquent children, as do a promotion because of his youthful ar- system-structured rehabilitation. Still, the most nations throughout the world. rests. District Attorney Terence Hallinan juvenile court system allowed them nu- had to appeal to the California Supreme merous opportunities to succeed, without Addams and the other Chicago reformers Court before he could be admitted to helped to redefine "childhood," creating a closing doors to potential future practice law. Judge Walton, Senator accomplishments. new vision of a unique, sacred period in Simpson, Terry Ray, Lawrence Wu, and human life, a period during which chil- Brian Silverman are all attorneys who In sum, all 25 profiles are living, breathing dren and adolescents require the nurtur- might have been denied admission to the testaments to the resiliency of the vision ance and guidance of responsible adults. bar had their juvenile offenses carried theof the women whose reform efforts led to No longer were children viewed as "mini- same weight as adult convictions. Like the founding of the juvenile court. They adults"; they were instead recognized as these individuals, all those profiled ben- are also a ringing affirmation of the need people qualitatively and developmentally efited, some profoundly, from protections for a court system premised on the recog- different from adults. These differences that allowed youth to put their past be- nition that children are different from were seen as making children more ame- hind them and move on.2 Society, too, has adults, a court system that gives young nable to intervention and recovery than benefited, as these individuals developed people a chance to make a better choice. their elders and at least potentially less into productive citizens instead of adult The 12 profiles that follow, which are re- culpable for the consequences of their criminals who would have contributed to printed fromSecond Chances,serve to actions. public fear and remained a drain on fiscal illustrate the major themes of these stories. and human resources. These reformers believed that, in a civi- lized society, the State has a moral re- Rehabilitation. The juvenile justice sys- sponsibility to act as a "kind and just par- tem still largely promotes the concept ent" to all children in need of protection that kids should be helped to turn their and sanctioning, and they reinvigorated lives around. Several of the individuals the concept of parens patriae to govern profiledKansas City Chiefs' linebacker such cases. In the context of a court sys- Derrick Thomas, premed student Jeremy tem, this meant that children would re- Estrada, former Presidential Honor Guard ceive individualized attention under the member Scott Filippi, author Claude Brown, and students Brandon Maxwell and Jason Smithcredit rigorous reha- ' The following countries established separate juvenile bilitative programs for opening a path court systems during this period: Great Britain and toward a better life. Canada, 1908; Switzerland, 1910; France and Belgium, 1912; Hungary, 1913; Croatia, 1918; Argentina and Aus- tria, 1919; India (Madras), 1920; India (Bengal), Japan, Madagascar, and Netherlands, 1922; Brazil and Ger- 2 The persons profiled chose to waive their confidenti- many, 1923; Spain, 1924; and Mexico, 1926. ality to be included in Second Chances.

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Court social workers recommended he be ob eam n sent to a prison-like facility in upstate Age: 52 New York where, Beamon describes, "juveniles were locked up and locked down Occupation: Olympic Athlete, set the for a long time." long-jump record in 1968 with a jump Beamon remembers "being real scared of 29 feet 21/2 inches. President of and looking down at the ground the whole Bob Beamon Communications Inc., time the judge was talking." But his grand- and Director of Athletic Development mother told the judge she would take at Florida Atlantic University. more responsibility and would take charge of Beamon. The juvenile judge was Residence: Miami, Florida. thoughtful, compassionate and obviously Education: Adelphi University. interested in helping kids. He sized up the situation and "must have seen something. Delinquency History: Assaults, tru- He said he was going to take a chance," ancy, and running away from home. Beamon says. Referred to the juvenile court in New Instead of jail, he was sent to an alterna- York for getting into a fight in a school. tive or "600 School" in Manhattan with Spent some time in a detention center other juvenile delinquents. It was a hard and sent to the "600 School" in Man- place where the teachers were tough and hattan, an alternative school for the kids were locked up inside during the juvenile delinquents. day. But Beamon learned some things, made some good friends and was given the opportunity to grow. It was a place "I was lucky. My grandmother stepped up food on the table. But, there was little where he had time to learn that there was for me and said she would take responsi- supervision and "certainly were no hugs more to life than trouble. bility for me and a compassionate juve- or affection." By the time he left the 600 School he had nile judge took a chance and gave me one. a good relationship with the staff and rec- They were getting ready to send me away His neighborhood in Jamaica, New York, to do real time, but they sent me instead was poor and life there was hard. "For ognized how important that was. He still to a juvenile alternative day school. And I most of my childhood it was just more or remembers two teachers, Mr. Rogers and guess that was the beginning of my turn- less survival," Beamon says. "I grew up George Goggins, among others, because they showed him that there was a differ- around." by learning and getting hurt at the same time." As a child he experienced and wit- ent way to live and behave. There is no What a turnaround it was. Bob Beamon nessed violence and a lot of what he calls doubt in his mind that the 600 School ex- would go from being a gang leader and "very serious scenes." As a young boy he perience was the "key to his turnaround." adjudicated juvenile delinquent to per- once saw a man literally being beaten to And his grandmother stayed true to her forming what is considered one of the death on the street. word and closely supervised him. most spectacular athletic achievements ever. In the midst of the wild and politically By the time he was 9, Beamon was al- charged Mexico City Summer Olympics of ready getting into trouble. He was steal- By the time he was 9, Beamon 1968, he captured the world's attention ing things, getting into fights, and skip- was already getting into trouble. by shattering the world and Olympic ping school. "I was hanging out with records for the long jump with a leap of thugs and the whole nine yards," Beamon "I was hanging out with thugs 29 feet 2 V2 inches. Perhaps even more says. The juvenile authorities put him in a and the whole 9 yards," he says. importantly, he went on to become a counseling program for one year and motivational speaker who now tries to tried to intervene, but over the next five move others like himself to get back on years he kept getting into trouble, finally "I got off the corner and into the commu- the "straight and narrow." "graduating into juvenile court." nity center and school," Beamon says. "Go- At 14, he ran away from home, skipped ing into Manhattan every day from Queens Bob Beamon never knew his biological showed me a world that intrigued me." father or mother. His mother died when school, drank, and fought. He couldn't he was an infant and his stepfather as- even read. He joined a gang, worked his And while he still got into a little trouble sumed responsibility for him. His stepfa- way up the gang hierarchy and got into here and there by "dipping and dabbling," ther did little in the way of parenting. He lots of fights. he was definitely on a different pathone drank a lot; beat his wife, his mother, and One of those gang fights spilled over into that would take him up and out of the Bob; and finally ended up in prison. Little school and into a classroom at Queens gang lifestyle. Bob never "had anyone to look up to" and P.S. 40. A teacher intervened and was no one to parent him. His grandmother, After setting a Junior Olympics record struck. Beamon was expelled from school in the long jump while in Junior High, Bessie, was the one who tried the most. and charged with assault and battery. She worked long hours as a domestic Beamon was determined to go to Jamaica The judge looked over his record (dating High School. He learned to "stay away worker, kept a roof over his head, and put back four years) and his school reports. from the old crowd and stay with better

21 influences." He was helped by Larry Ellis, Beamon's story did not end with his ath- more devastated than when he was a boy. the school's dean and track coach, who letic gifts and accomplishments. Indeed, "The backup systemsextended family, took Beamon under his wing. Ellis recog- he has gone on to pursue new dreams. church, neighborsare simply not there nized Beamon's athletic ability and en- He operates his own corporation, Bob like they used to be." Beamon also ob- couraged him to have dreams and to pur- Beamon Communications Inc., in Miami, serves that while today's children are be- sue them. At 16, Beamon started setting Florida where he now lives with his wife ing exposed to more dangers, parents are city-wide records in track, culminating in and daughter. He is an exhibited artist, has becoming less watchful over, and less in- a New York State record for the long designed and marketed a successful line of volved with, their own kids. Families are jump. Now, he had a purpose, an opportu- neckties and spends much of his time as far more fragmented and disconnected. nity, encouragement from others and an an inspirational speaker and corporate Olympic dream. spokesman. He has developed his own mo- "They are not sitting around the dinner tivational program, The Champion in You, table, talking and bonding," he says. in which he describes how, "Champions "They are in their own worlds." His grandmother stayed true to are made by the things you accomplish He speaks of the need for those in power her words to the judge by and by the way you use your abilities in to understand the realities of troubled staying after Bob. He began to everyday life situations." His autobiogra- kidsto know their devastated worlds phy,The Man Who Could Fly: The Bob and livesand then to begin to make "get off the corner and into the Beamon Story,has just been published. those kids' lives better. "We need to get community center and school." Most recently, Beamon accepted an ap- out of denial and reach out to these kids. pointment as the Director of Athletic De- They need to understand what can hap- velopment at Florida Atlantic University. pen to them and what is in store for them Five years later, in Mexico City, Bob Beamon emphasizes that "we must all do in the penal system. We must teach them Beamon realized his potential by leaping our part to make sure children are a prior- that there is a better, more interesting 29 feet 2 inches, thereby setting new ity in our society." He concentrates on world out there." world and Olympic records in the long working with troubled kids, "trying to give Beamon says despite his early troubles, jump. In a sporting event where records something back." Acknowledging that, he was given the opportunity to make were broken by inches, Beamon jumped while some kids today are involved in mistakes and to learn from them. He had nearly two feet longer than anyone else more serious crimes and appear to be less a grandmother who cared, a thoughtful ever had. His world record remained in- attached to society, he says that "kids are juvenile judge, a responsive juvenile sys- tact for 23 years. Indeed, in modern still basically the same; they have the tem, all of which encouraged him and en- sports lingo, a record shattering event same needs and problems; they are kids; abled him to become a better person. or feat is now termed "Beamonesque." they need our love and attention." There is no question that his early life Following his Olympic triumph, Beamon experiences were not much different than went on to graduate from Ade 1phi Univer- those of many of today's troubled kids. sity and entered a career in public rela- "The backup systemsfamily, However, he worries that too little atten- tions first at a bank, then coaching college church, neighborsare simply tion is being paid to them. Today's society track, and later running Parks and Recre- not there like they used to be. is "clearly less tolerant and more willing ation programs in Miami-Dade, Florida. He to throw away many kids." Beamon be- has lived and worked in Mexico and Spain Kids are basicly the same lieves it is very possible that he would and has remained active in the Olympic they have the same needs and not have been given that same chance movement. Along with actor Arnold today. Schwarzenegger, he organized the South problemsthey are kids." The opportunities provided by a compe- Florida Inner-City Games for at-risk kids tent juvenile justice system gave Beamon and is Chairman of the Bob Beamon time to find himself, to learn to work hard United Way Golf Classic, which benefits He notes, however, that kids today are and to achieve his Olympic dreams. And youth-related programs of the United subjected to more violencebe it in the streets, in the classroom, on TV, on the the rest is Beamonesque history. He leapt Way. He is a member of the New York into the record books and into our hearts Track and Field Hall of Fame, the Olympic internet or in video games. He is particularly concerned that the inner cities, in the Mexico City Olympics. And we are Hall of Fame and is in the ESPN's list of still talking about him. the top 100 athletes of the 20th Century. where many troubled kids live, are even

5 Claude "One of the worst things that happened in my lifetime was the demise of the Wilt- Age: 62 wyck school, and so many [other] facilities when they were most needed," he Occupation: Author, Manchild in the says. "There should have been a hundred Promised Land, a best selling autobi- more of this type of facility." ography on his youth in Harlem, New York. Freelance writer, The New York He knows, too, that reforming programs for the nation's at-risk youth is more com- Times Magazine, Esquire, The Satur- plicated than just building 100 more train- day Evening Post and Life Magazine. ing schools. While he dedicates his book Residence: Newark, New Jersey. to Wiltwyck, where he was sent at age 11, Brown kept committing crimes well into Education: Howard University and his late teens, long after leaving Wiltwyck, Rutgers Law School. and even after several stints in Warwick, a more hardened upstate school for juve- Delinquency History: Graduated from nile offenders. youthful fights and shoplifting to drug sales and assault. He served time in "When Manchild first came out, everybody asked, 'How did you do it, what's a New York juvenile detention center, the formula?'," he says. "There are no for- and two upstate youth training schools, mulas for life." including the Wiltwyck and Warwick schools for boys. Claude Brown's crime run began at the tender age of 8. His father, a dock worker, would frequently beat him and his sib- "When thebus was all loaded and ready soldiers overseas that foretold the 4 mil- lings when they got into trouble, and his to take us back to the Youth House, one oflion copies it would sell, and how impor- mother struggled with the juvenile court the boys in the seat behind me tapped me tant Manchild would become. to get him into the best state delinquency on the shoulder and said, 'Hey, shorty, programs. But nothing seemed to prevent ain't that your mother standin' on the "I would get letters from brothers who Brown from breaking the law. In spite of court stoop? Man, she's cryin." were stationed in Vietnam, who were fromhis unstable, alcoholic father, and the places that I didn't think had blacks," poverty of his youth, his siblings all grew "I said, 'So what?' as if I didn't care. But I Brown says. "They would write things up to lead normal lives. cared. I had to care. That was the first like, 'Hey brother, are you sure your fa- time I had seen Mama crying like that. ther didn't have a twin, because he sure She was just standing there by herself, sounds like mine.' And some would say, Willtwyck was the first place not moving, not making a sound as if she `thanks for writing our story.'" didn't even know it was cold out there. Claude Brown met any African- The sun was shining, but it was cold and "I realized after reading some of these let- Americans who finished high ters, this wasn't just my biography. It was there was ice on the ground. The tears school, let alone college. He just kept rolling down Mama's face as the the biography of an entire generation of bus started to pull away from the curb. African Americans," he says. "And that is found positive influences in the I had to care. Those tears shining on why it sold so many copies, and that's kinds of adults he met there. Mama's face were falling for me. When thewhy it was such a significant contribution bus started down the street, I wanted to to American literature at the time." run back and say something to Mama. I Sadly, the story of today's African- "I was the black sheep of the family," he didn't know what. I thought, maybe I American boys too often includes a chap- says. "Also, life on the streets, it was woulda said, "Mama, I didn't mean what ter with a mother crying on the court pretty exciting life for an 8-year-old." I said, 'cause I really do care." No, I house steps as their children are bussed wouldn'a say that. I woulda said, "Mama, away. But today, Claude Brown knows He started stealing from cash registers, button up your coat. It's cold out here." they are less likely to end up in the nur- shoplifting, and playing hooky at age 9. Yeah, that's what I forgot to say to turing environment he wrote about in The court made his parents send him to Mama."Manchild in the Promised Land, Manchild, the Wiltwyck School for Boys in live with grandparents in South Carolina 1965. upstate New York (to which he dedicated for a year. As soon as he came back, he began running with his old gang again, Claude Brown's Manchild in the Promised the book). Instead, they are heading to adult prisons or crumbling juvenile deten- stealing and fighting. After a series of Land, published in 1965, just as America's stints in New York City's juvenile home, involvement in the Vietnam War was esca- tion centers. The 62-year-old author and intellectual spends plenty of time with Brown was 11 when the court ordered lating, is an autobiography of his youth in him to Wiltwyck for two-and-a-half years. Harlem, New York; the story of how he young offenders in America's jails, pris- survived "street life." Brown originally ons and detention centers, and thinks he While he kept up a reputation as the thought he might sell 100 copies of the knows at least some of the reasons why school's bad boy, he found positive influ- book, but he soon received letters from it's hard for them to climb out of the ences in the kinds of adults he met there. "street life." Wiltwyck was the first place Brown met 6 5 any African-Americans who finished high way through, moved downtown to Green- Wright'sEight Men,a collection of short school, let alone college. He also wrote wich Village and started evening high stories of eight people's lives, and it in- warmly of dinners he spent at Eleanor school when he was 17. He credits some of spired him enough to write about Harlem Roosevelt's home, who helped found the his success climbing out of street life to through his own life story. school (and to whom he also dedicated the luck of missing the scourge of heroin in the book). Harlemsomething he vividly describes in"I didn't know anything other than my Manchildas having destroyed the next gen-own life, so that was what I wrote," he But it was his relationship with a white eration of Harlem hoods. Gradually, he says. "I know people like to idealize things man, with the European executive director parted ways with his gang. As his friends more, like, 'wrote to correct the world,' of the school, that left the most lastingim- graduated from training school, to prison, but that's how it happened." pression on him. At Wiltwyck, Brown con- he married a woman he met in night stantly battled with Ernst Papanek for the school and finally began to learn enough "One of the worst things that loyalty of the school's residents. Only after to seek out a college education. he left did he and Papanek become friends, happened in my lifetime was the and did he come to appreciate his help, In 1959, Brown entered Howard University and the other staff at Wiltwyck. Papanek in Washington, and on a visit the follow- demise of the Wiltwyck school, kept in touch with Brown over the years ing year to Harlem, he saw how far he was and so many [other] facilities and encouraged him to go back to school. from street life. He remembers getting off Even at Warwick, the much tougher train- a bus in his old neighborhood, when he when they were most needed. ing school he later attended, he found heard a familiar voice call his name. Mere should have been a positive influences in Mrs. Cohen, who hundred more off this type off gave Brown books to read, and encour- "This guy I had been to Wiltwyck with, aged him to finish high school and told and Warwick with, says "man, I just got facility." him he was smart enough to go to college. out of Sing (Sing Sing State Prison). `Everybody's up there, and we've been "Eventually, it started getting to me," looking for you. If you were up there, we'd Almost 35 years, and 4 million copies Brown says. But the positive influences in be running the joint.'" later,Manchildhas become the second his life were balanced by negative ones, best selling book MacMillan ever pub- forcing him to choose his future. Brown remembers his friend mentioning that he saved seats for him in all the dif- lished (the first wasGone with the Wind), ferent juvenile jails and prisons that de- and it was published in 14 languages. It launched his career as a writer, giving him "II spent a Rot off time in fined his life. By the time he got to Sing, he decided, Brown wasn't going to show. a platform to publish inEsquire, The Satur- correction facilities with adults day Evening Post, Life, LookandThe New "And then he said in an accusatory tone, York Times Magazine.For a while, he at- and adolescents, and it is one off `You know what someone said about you. tended law school, but dropped out when my deepest convictions that, off Somebody said, you went to college.' And his writing and lectures developed into a the guys I grew up with, most off I said, `Ah, you know, somebody is full career. always lying about somebody or some- them didn't have to be there." thing.'" Meanwhile, Brown started a family. He has two children by two marriages, and "It was almost as if we had tacitly pledged now, a grandson. Though living in New- After Wiltwyck, he returned to a life of allegiance to the criminal life," Brown ark, New Jersey, he is still involved in crime, culminating in him getting shot in says. "And you sort of felt like a traitor." Harlem and helping kids out of the street the abdomen and nearly dying while at- As he worked his way through a liberal life. He works to maintain a program that tempting to steal some bed sheets to fi- arts degree at Howard, working part-time mentors kids from Harlem, and helps nance drug purchases. Despite three as a postal clerk, Brown began writing them go to college. Brown also supports a more stints at Warwick, Brown continued short stories and articles for non-paying Newark-based program that diverts kids caught up in the court system into an in- to graduate to more serious offenses, in- intellectual magazines likeDissent(where cluding selling marijuana, then cocaine. his work was edited by Norman Mailer) tensive eight week residential treatment program that tries to turn young people's The pieces finally came together in his life andCommentary.At Howard, novelist when a junkie named "Limpy" stole his Toni Morrison was his writing teacher. lives around. drug stash at gunpoint. If Brown was go- She frequently read and critiqued his "All these kids get a copy ofManchild,and ing to stay in the game and maintain his early work. A publisher from MacMillan I come in to talk to them when they come reputation, he would have to shoot Limpy who had read some of these articles took in, and 8 weeks later," Brown says. "You dead. A friend urged Brown to get out. Brown out for lunch, ("got me drunk," he get a lot of interesting turn-around, and "I think if anybody on Eighth Avenue ever says) and convinced him to write some- positive changes." thing about life in Harlem. makes it, I think it could be you," the While Brown sees more positive changes, friend said. As he tells it today, Brown At that point, the longest thing Brown and positive influences in community didn't really want to go to school, "but it ever wrote was a 20-page short story. He structures than ever before, he argues seemed like the only exit." had no idea how to write a book. Six that at-risk kids have greater needs than Brown told his customers he was out of months later, long after he spent the ever before. That, and a mix of harder business, got some odd jobs to pay his publisher's advance, he was nowhere. drugs, and change in culture, produced a Then, he picked a copy of Richard different kind of childhood criminal than ' 6 7 he and his gang were. In the 1980s and Jeremy Estrada early 90s, Brown spent many of his visits to juvenile detention centers and prisons Age:22 trying to understand the senseless vio- At age 13, he assaulted his mother's boy- lence being committed by muggers. Why, Occupation:College student, science friend and was placed in juvenile hall for he asked, were their victims shot dead, and pre-medicine. three days. Even with the supervision of a for "chump change"? probation officer every month, he ac- Residence:Los Angeles, California. quired two more assault charges, and was "You shoot them if they don't have any sent to juvenile hall on two separate occa- money. You shoot them after they give it Education:Senior, Pepperdine sions. His assault charges soon escalated up. Why?" Brown asked. "And they would University. to armed robbery and breaking and enter- tell me things like, 'Well, it's what you do.' Delinquency History:Assault and ing. Finally, he was sent to a group home And I would say, 'No, I've been there. for a year-and-a-half. That's not what you do!" battery and carrying a concealed weapon, all relating to his time with a Estrada didn't mind the group home. A lot Exasperated, Brown finally asked: "Do you gang. Spent time on juvenile probation, of friends from his gang were there with mean that [shooting your victims] is like, juvenile detention, an alternative boys' him. But it provided no real treatment. style, like wearing blue jeans? And they school, and finally, the Rite of Passage When he was released to his mother, the would say, 'yeah, that's it.'" Wilderness Challenge Program in the family was homeless. Estrada lived with Brown thinks many of these kids he has Nevada desert. his father for a while, but continued to be visited in detention are victims of a kind arrested for assault and battery. By this of "society endorsed abandonment," and time, juvenile hall was no threat. He liked that that is the heart of the juvenile crime Twelve-year-old Jeremy Estrada felt his having hot meals, a bed to sleep in, a problem. "The most common form of heart hardening as he held his best friend daily shower, clean clothes and friends. child abuse in America, regardless of so- in his arms and watched his blood stain cioeconomic status, is neglect," Brown the pavement. Six rival gang members A year into the program he met says. "The rich abandon their kids to had jumped out of a car, stabbed Rudy, boarding schools, and the poor, to TV. and fled. Estrada was left alone to watch a teacher who took the time to What happens when you abandon a wholethe slow death of his only friend. change his life. He taught generation to TV is you get a lot of kids who think, `TV's not real, maybe I'm not Life was tough for Estrada, growing up in Estrada how to do fractions, real, either.' Let's go out and shoot some- LA, surrounded by gangs, his family sepa- working with him until Estrada body.' You want to cut crime, we have to rated since he was ten. His only role model stop abandoning our kids." had been Rudyhis neighbor, his big learned the skill. From that brother, his companion. When Rudy died, point on, "something inside of Positive Change. Positive Influences. Estrada lost interest in school and sports. Claude Brown says he believes, instinc- His only urge was to fight, to unleash his me was sparked." tively, that most of the kids he ran with, anger and grief. He turned for solace to the along with most of the kids today can be gang for which Rudy lost his life. turned around. When he was released from the group home again, he violated his probation by "They were good people," he says of his He was charged with assault and skipping school altogether. He was on former street gang. "I spent a lot of time in battery, and with no treatment the run for weeks, hiding out in friends' correctional facilities with adults and houses. When he finally turned himself in, adolescents, and it is one of my deepest for his anger, Estrada had he was sentenced to 6-9 months in a camp convictions that, of the guys I grew up another assault charge on his where he was taught job skills, but again, with, most of them didn't have to be received no specific treatment. When this there. They weren't necessarily bad or record a few weeks later. placement expired, he was released to his evil, they did the natural thing and suc- father. cumbed to the environment. And every time I walk out of those huge prison gates, After Rudy died, fighting became Estrada's This time when he returned to the streets I sense, I could have been here." + way of life. During one skirmish he sent a his gang was at war. Several of Estrada's boy to the hospital with internal bleeding friends were killed. "I decided to get re- in the brain. He was charged with assault venge," he says. Before he made good on and battery and given six-months of proba-that promise, Estrada's stepmother found tion, during which he never saw a proba- his pistol and called the police. He ran tion officer. With no treatment for his an- from the helicopters and dogs that chased ger, Estrada had another assault charge on him. Two weeks later he turned himself in his record a few weeks later. He was and was sent to Rite of Passage, a Wilder- placed on more restrictive probation. The ness Challenge Program tucked in the pattern repeatedhe was arrested an- Nevada desert, fifteen miles from a paved other four times for assault and put on road. Unlike his previous placements, probation each time, but never received Rite of Passage offered Estrada positive any counseling. reinforcement. Although a kid might be

7 to cnannet nis anger towards learning and 7111104. N,C.4111111,0111 1111,4. screaming at one another and throwing earned his high school diploma. His coun- Education: GED. selor challenged him to go to college and objects around the house. According to helped him with the financial paperwork. Delinquency History: Fatally shot a school records, unexplained bruises and breaks began appearing on both Filippi With the encouragement of his father and parent who had been abusing him for and his younger sister Tyanna during this counselors, Estrada opted to get out of several years. Detained in juvenile hall, time. His parents' relationship ended in the neighborhood and attend Lassen Col- and then referred to the Oakendell 1973 when Lori was fired from the Los lege in northern California. Two days after residential treatment facility for 21 Angeles County Sheriff's Department for his release from Rite of Passage, Estrada months. being physically abusive to suspects. was a college student. During his first night on campus, however, he began hav- As bad as things were when Lori Filippi ing fears of not succeeding. Once his anxi-"I remember a lot of dark rooms...a lot of was in the home, they got much worse ety would have spilled into violence; now, hitting...and a lot of crying. No lights, just after he left. Jeri lei refused to let the chil- he took up a different challenge: "I'm go- smack! and locked into a dark room." dren have any contact with their father, ing to sit in the front row of every class returning gifts and letters that Lori sent and study harder than any other student."While this may sound to some like a de- for years after the break up. Worse still, scription of a night in jail, this is Scott when Filippi was age four, Jeri lei married Keeping his word, Estrada earned straightFilippi's earliest recollection of his child- a vicious man, Paul Furta, who constantly A's in his two years at junior college, was hood. The physical and psychological tor- bloodied Filippi and Tyanna. Child Protec- student body President of the Hispanic ture in Filippi's life, much of it adminis- tive Services was frequently called to the Student Association, and a student am- tered at the hands of his mother, built to ahome. The psychological trauma caused bassador. He met a college scout from crescendo when he was 16 and culmi- by Furta's physical and sexual abuse of Pepperdine who encouraged him to apply nated in him shooting and killing his Tyanna was so extensive she experienced for admission. mother. Filippi then made a remarkable temporary sight and hearing loss. transformation from a profoundly abused Estrada is now 22 and preparing to gradu- child, through the juvenile justice system, ate from Pepperdine University and plans emerging as a soldier on the elite Presi- Scott was beaten with a two-by- to attend graduate school to study neuro- dential Honor Guard and later becoming a four and belts, was punched and science. Estrada attributes his success to successful businessman. Rite of Passage, positive reinforcement, kicked and thrown down stairs academics, his parents and, of course, There is no account of Scott Filippi's and across rooms. This abuse the teacher who opened up the world childhoodhis physical abuse and his of knowledge for him. psychological torturethat isn't pro- began before Filippi entered foundly disturbing. According to court kindergarten and continued Estrada believes kids need individualized records, Filippi and his sister were attention. His biggest gripe with the ju- abused so badly that his sister lost her until an arrest in his teens put venile justice system is that, even when hearing and sight. Filippi was sexually an end to his nightmare. juveniles are rehabilitated, the system abused by a stranger, learned of his throws them back into the conditions that sister's sexual abuse at the hands of his set them up for failure. A major reason for stepfather, and walked in on his mother Tyanna was removed from her mother's Estrada's success was his decision not to being unfaithful to his stepfather on sev- go back to his neighborhood. home to live with her aunt when Filippi eral occasions. Filippi was beaten with a was eight years old. "Then," Filippi re- Estrada now works for Rite of Passage two-by-four and belts, was punched and ports "he turned his attention to me." during school vacations. He speaks at kicked and thrown down the stairs and Filippi was petrified over the next four to across rooms. This period of abuse five years. "I spent my whole childhood 9 being scared to death of every adult Filippi was returned to his mother who deteriorated. In the next two weeks, around me." promised to turn over a new leaf. Filippi called his father three times, each time sounding more disillusioned. Finally, Filippi relates that he was either com- A year later, Jerilei began dating and then on the Saturday before the killing, Filippi pletely ignored or abused by his mother married Bruce Lee. Although Lee was not implored his father to let him live with and Furta. His mother told Filippi he was as abusive as Furta, he occasionally beat him. Lori reprimanded his son and told "worthless" and "a good-for-nothing" Filippi at the request of Jerilei, hitting him him to wait until the end of the semester more times than he can remember. And with a two-by-four on one occasion. Jerilei before moving. Furta beat him regularly. and Bruce also provided Filippi and his sister with little in the way of material "One time when I was in the third grade," necessities, with the two teenagers hav- "The Army, Juvenile Hall, Filippi recalls, "my teacher told Paul and ing only three pairs of shirts and pants to my mother that I had skipped school. their name. In order to be able to afford to OakendellI think I did well in When we got home, I ran right up into my buy himself some new clothes, Filippi ob- all of them because they offered room, crying all the time, knowing what tained several different after-school jobs. was coming. Paul just charged up the me structure without the abuse. stairs. I was in the upper bunk of my bed Filippi's work and other outside activities The attention to detail the when he started wailing on me with his immediately became the source of severe belt and yelling at me. He hit me over and strain between his mother and him in the Honor Guard required of me over and eventually knocked me out of fateful summer of 1986. Filippi got a job was easy compared to what I bed. He began kicking me and kept on on the Santa Cruz boardwalk, where beating me with the belt. It seemed like it Jerilei would visit and loudly tell other had been through at home." lasted forever. Eventually, he just droppedpatrons how bad the service (provided by the belt, and said something sarcastic like Filippi) was. She periodically demanded On October 6, 1986, when Filippi was 16, it looks like 'it made a good impression,' that Filippi leave work immediately, even- he came home from school and started to because of all the bloody welts on me. tually resulting in his firing. Then he walked out of the room. I was wash, wax and vacuum his mother's car. bloody from my head to my knees. My Jerilei also cut Filippi off from girlfriends The whole time he was working on her mother just walked in and said 'you bet- and other activities. She told the first girl car, she was glaring at him and criticizing ter take a shower and get cleaned up.'" Filippi brought home that "you could do a him. When he was finished, she swore at lot better than him." In order for Filippi to him, complaining that he hadn't spent join the school band, the principal and enough time on it, and ordered him to do Juvenile hall court records: " the band leader had to come to Filippi's it again. Filippi still chokes when he talks house to implore Jerilei on his behalf. about what happened next. "All of a sud- was in a serious state of shock When she came to one of his concerts den, she just started going off on me, tell- and for several days was unable and ordered Filippi to leave immediately, ing me she hated me and she didn't love he was kicked off the band. me," Filippi relates. "Just going off. I ran to do anything but shake and upstairs, I grabbed a 22, one of Bruce's....I cry .... He is very sad and Filippi's Uncle JT saw what was happen- just wanted her to listen, just to stop yelling and tried to get Filippi over to his tearful when questioned about ing at me and listen." Filippi fired once, house periodically for odd jobs, just to killing his mother, and immediately ran this offense." give him a break. But in the summer of out into the yard. 1986, Uncle JT had taken ill suddenly and died. At his wit's end, Filippi repeatedly When Lee returned later that day, Filippi "My mother knew what Paul was doing to attempted to return to his father. About a wanted to tell him what happened. But as me and worse, what he was doing to my month before his mother's death, right Lee walked up the steps, Filippi grabbed a sister, and she never did anything to pro- after his uncle died, Filippi ran away from two-by-four and struck him once on the tect us," Filippi remembers. home, called his father and said he shoulder. "What did you do that for?" Lee couldn't stand it at his mother's home protested. "I killed mom," was Filippi's reply. In 1980, Filippi secretly began to contact any longer. His father wired him a plane "And I want you to kill me. I want to die." his father to arrange to move in with him ticket and spoke with Jerilei about send- Filippi then ran away from his home and in Colorado. Jerilei had been keeping ing Filippi's clothes with him. Jerilei told Filippi and Lori apart since the divorce, flagged down a passing patrol car on a her ex-husband that she didn't care if nearby highway. His confession to the po- and she was enraged that Filippi had con- Filippi died. She bagged all of his clothes tacted him. When Lori came from Colo- lice officer resulted in Filippi's first and and threw them in the town dump. In an only arrest. rado to visit Filippi, Jerilei hid him. act of unspeakable vengeance, she even Filippi was eventually able to move in with killed Filippi's pet hamster. But when the By the time Filippi arrived at juvenile hall, his father for a short time. On the day he plane was about to leave, Jerilei apolo- records recount "he was in a serious state left, his mother's last words were "get out gized and told Filippi that she loved him. of shock and for several days was unable of here." She refused to talk with him on Filippi instantly canceled his trip. "When to do anything but shake and cry and the phone or answer his letters. Lori ad- she told me she loved me, that's all I seemed to be unable to even comprehend mits he too physically abused Filippi. Lori needed to hear," he remembers. that anyone was in the room with him or speaking to him....He is very sad and tear- Filippi punched his son in the stomach No sooner had Filippi decided to stay until he couldn't breathe, and once threw than things between his mother and him ful when questioned about this offense. him down a flight of stairs in a fit of rage. He states that he only wishes he had gone

BEST COPY AVAILABLE to live with his father on the Saturday offered me structure without the abuse," he "Jailing kids with adults isn't just bad for before the shooting so that it would have says. "The attention to detail that the juveniles, it's bad for society as a whole," never happened." Honor Guard required of me was easy com- he says. "Far from getting the guidance Throughout Filippi's life, he had tried des- pared to what I had been through at home."and counseling which enabled me to become a productive citizen, kids in adult perately to please his mother by doing hisFilippi served honorably in the United chores and cleaning his room to perfec- States Army. After discharge in 1992, he jails learn their lessons from violent crimi- tion so as to avoid abuse. Filippi's perfec- began working for a Mercedes-Benz Deal- nals. 1, and others like me, are living proof tionism now began to serve him well. He ership in Southern California. He rose that prevention and rehabilitation pro- excelled in the regimen of juvenile hall, grams are the best tools for deterring quickly through the ranks there, becom- crime." despite the trauma he had undergone and ing the finance director in 1995 and the the series of pending legal dramas he was sales director in 1998. Filippi is currently "I know that after reading this, people facing. The case made headlines in the engaged to be married, and plans to write a may view me differently. But when I was local papers and the District Attorney book about his life experiences. Reflecting 16 and facing a life sentence in adult quickly decided to ask the court to try on his life and current efforts to automati- prison, I swore that if I could help others Filippi as an adult despite numerous veri- cally try kids like himself in adult criminal get the same consideration I had, I would fied accounts of his abuse. Since transfer court, Filippi thinks that is a bad idea. do it. I am grateful for the chance I was to adult court in California is done at the given to make a new start, and hope other discretion of the court, as opposed to the young offenders get the same chance." + district attorney, as is the case in Florida, Filippi still had a chance of staying in the Terence Ha Mina juvenile system. Age: Judge William Kelsey, appointed to the Su- 63 perior Court by Governor Ronald Reagan, Occupation: District Attorney of San heard lengthy testimony about the abuse Francisco. Filippi had endured and about his potential for rehabilitation. Judge Kelsey not Residence: San Francisco, California. only retained Filippi in the juvenile court but made the unusual move of stopping Education: University of California Filippi's trial in the middle of the proceed- (Berkeley); Hastings School of Law; ings, rendering a verdict of manslaughter, London School of Economics. and sentencing Filippi to a long-term, highly structured therapeutic placement. Delinquency History: Spent time in San Francisco's juvenile hall, and the Filippi thrived in the Oakendell residential Marin County jail for fighting and as- treatment facility where he spent the next sault. Adult convictions for civil 21 months undergoing a strict regimen of disobedience. psychological treatment. Filippi also began to work for the office of the California Human Development Corporation helping low-income people find jobs and making sure that shut-ins continued to have heat and other utilities. With his meticulous attention to detail, Filippi rose quickly to the position of project director. In histhree years as District Attorney of twice the decline in juvenile violence ex- San Francisco, Terence Hallinan has used perienced by the rest of the state that Filippi remained in the Northern Califor- his passion for justice and his personal year. nia area after completing the Oakendell understanding of juvenile delinquency to program and continued to work with the hold San Francisco's delinquent youth Ironically, in 1966, Hallinan was actually Human Development Corporation. After accountable and make sure they have a refused admission to the California Bar, he was laid off due to budget cuts, he en- chance at rehabilitation. During his ten- based at least partially on his youthful rolled in the United States Army. Again, ure as DA, he has diverted more delin- misbehavior. At the time, the Bar wrote Filippi's perfectionism served him well. quent youth into rigorous counseling and "this Committee does hereby refuse to Based on his testing scores and his per- supervision services, and increased the certify the applicant to the Supreme formance in boot camp, Filippi was re- use of early intervention in the belief that Court of California for admission and li- cruited for a position in the Presidential it is important to help young people who cense to practice law because said appli- Honor Guard assigned to guard President have gotten into trouble to turn their livescant does not satisfy the requirement... George Bush. This is an elite military around, like he was able to do. that he be of good moral character." corps which stresses perfection in dress, The results thus far have been impres- Originally, when the Bar Association Sub- comportment and behavior and is both a Committee reviewed Hallinan's applica- highly competitive and disciplined unit. sive. The violent juvenile crime rate in San Francisco dropped by 13% during tion, it denied him based solely on his "The Army, Juvenile Hall, Oakendell-1 Hallinan's first year as DA, more than arrests for civil disobedience during the think 1 did well in all of them because they civil rights movement. It was only later, when the full Bar reviewed his application, his father, petitioner experienced 'social When Hallinan was age 16, his father was that they added his juvenile arrests for ostracism and isolation and unpopularity' again sent to McNeil Island, this time for fighting as a reason to find him "morally while a student in grammar school. Occa- two years. sionally, he and his brothers were physi- unfit." To this day, Hallinan opines that his "My father never stopped organizing, juvenile charges were added as a smoke cally abused by older boys because of the political views associated with the even in prison," Hallinan laughs. "While screen to mask the Bar's obvious disap- he was at McNeil Island, he became the proval of his non-violent organizing in sup- Hallinan family. Petitioner testified for example, that one older brother was head of the prison grievance committee port of the civil rights movement. It would and got the dining hall desegregated." take a six-to-one decision of the California badly beaten up by three marines "be- Supreme Court to allow Hallinan to prac- cause of our opposition to the Korean tice law and ultimately occupy the office War." At this point, petitioner's father The violent juvenile crime rate which prosecuted him on several gave his sons formal instruction and occasions. training in boxing. According to his wife, in San Francisco dropped by petitioner's father believed that, "if you 13% during Hallinan's first year are going to hold radical opinions, you "There was a Rot of hostility have to be able to fight." According to as DA, more than twice the directed towards our family Mrs. Hallinan, petitioner initially resisted decline in juvenile violence the importuning of his father that he learn experienced by the rest of the during that period ....And we to fight. Once he reconciled himself to the returned it, in kind." alleged necessity, however, the training state. provided by his father converted petitioner into a formidable opponentas is Terence Hallinan was born on December 4, attested...by the name by which he is But Hallinan gets more serious when he 1936, the second of six sons born to Vin- regularly known: "Kayo Hallinan." talks about the impact his father's impris- cent and Vivian Hallinan. Vincent Hallinan onment had on him during his formative was both loved and loathed in the San After Hallinan's older brother, Patrick, years. "It was hard to grow up with that Francisco Bay Area as a fighter for progres-was badly beaten up by a group of Ma- much pressure and not have your father sive causes. His left-leaning tendencies rines, Vincent Hallinan built a boxing ring around to help you through it." in his basement and got a boxing coach to brought him and his family under consid- As a result, Hallinan began to fight, like he erable legal and community pressures. school his sons. Tony Curro, himself a former welter-weight boxer, did such a was taught to do. When Terence Hallinan was in the third good job with the Hallinan boys that the As a youth, Terence Hallinan had numer- grade, his family moved from the more first five of them became boxing champs ous fighting-related scrapes with the law, tolerant confines of San Francisco to a at U.C. Berkeley. and he saw the inside of both Marin more affluent and conservative commu- County's and San Francisco's juvenile hall nity in Marin County, California. Terence on several occasions. Eventually, when he remembers the constant harassment he If his juvenile record had been was age 17, one of those fights got him and his brothers were subjected to, in- forwarded to U.C. Berkeley or kicked out of Drake High School in San cluding being called communists and hav- Hastings when he was applying Rafael, and made a ward of the juvenile ing a hammer and sickle spray-painted on court. The juvenile court judge ordered their home. for admission, Hainan says, "I young Hallinan removed from Marin "The whole country was moving right at guess I'd be a Longshoreman County for a period of one year, allowing him to return home from Friday night to that time, and my father moved left," he now." recalls. Sunday evening to visit his family. In its description of Vivian Hallinan's testi- "My father got me a job as a warehouse- mony, the California Supreme Court gave "There was a lot of hostility directed to- man in Sacramento, I got my own place, a surprisingly poignant recitation of the ward our family during that period," and worked a nine-to-five job," Hallinan pressures Hallinan was under during his Hallinan relates, with the difficulty of that remembers. "It was good for me, in a lot adolescence: "...[I]t appears to be her time still obviously fresh in his mind. of ways. It got me away from the bad feeling that the primary causes of her "And we returned it in kind." chemistry in my home neighborhood, and allowed me to start over and make it on son's bellicosity lay in certain unique de- Hallinan grew to adolescence in the late my own." velopments during the period of his ado- 1940s. As the Cold War heated up, the lescence. During this period, petitioner's pressure on his family increased. When Hallinan notes with obvious pride that father, a prominent attorney, was becom- Hallinan was 14 years old, Vincent Hallinan not only was he supporting himself on his ing an increasingly controversial, if not a was sent to the Federal Prison at McNeil wages at this time, but that he quickly notorious figure in the community, as a Island for six months for contempt of saved up enough money to buy his par- result of his widely publicized and unor- court arising out of his defense of famed ents the first television set the family had thodox political views (among other labor leader and founder of the Long- ever owned. things, he ran for President as the candi- shoreman's unionHarry Bridges. During date of the Independent Progressive most of Hallinan's adolescence, Vincent After his "year of exile," Terence Hallinan Party) and his outspoken defense of vari- and Vivian Hallinan were defending them- moved to San Francisco and graduated ous unpopular causes and individuals. selves from one or another indictment. from Drew High School. He then worked Because of the controversy surrounding

11 I 12 in Hawaii as a laborer and clerk for the worded decision, the Court wrote "After San Francisco Board of Supervisors. He Longshoreman's Union for a year. reading the entire record, and exercising was elected District Attorney of San Fran- Upon his return to California, Hallinan our independent judgment as to the cisco in 1995. entered the University of California at weight of the evidence, we find that the conclusion of the Committee of Bar Exam- Towards the end of the interview in his Berkeley. There, he joined the University's office adorned with pictures of his civil boxing team, coming within two fights of iners that petitioner does not possess the good moral character required of appli- rights activities, Hallinan discussed re- making the 1960 U.S. Olympics team as a cent legislation that would abolish confi- middleweight. cants for admission to the bar is not justi- fied by the record, and to the contrary we dentiality protections for juveniles and, in After graduating from U.C. Berkeley, find that the record demonstrates that some cases, forward their juvenile arrest Hallinan attended the famed London petitioner possesses such character. This records to colleges to which they are ap- School of Economics. While in London, he being so, being qualified in all respects, plying for admission. When asked what met philosopher Lord Bertrand Russell, petitioner is entitled to be admitted to the implications would have been for him then part of the opposition to America's practice law." if his juvenile record had been forwarded involvement in the Vietnam War. Hallinan to U.C. Berkeley or Hastings when he was attended a peace demonstration in front After being admitted to the Bar, Hallinan applying for admission, Hallinan replied, of the American Embassy, where he expe- practiced law as a defense attorney for "I guess I'd be a Longshoreman now." rienced his first civil disobedience arrest over 20 years before being elected to the for "blocking a footpath." He was fined one pound. Sally Henderson Upon Hallinan's return to America and Age:23 entrance into Hastings School of Law, his interest in the anti-war and civil rights Occupation:Television broadcasting. movements grew. He became a member of Residence:Bloomington, Illinois. the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and was arrested sev- Education:ParklandJunior College eral times in Mississippi attempting to and Illinois State University. register African-Americans to vote. Delinquency History: Aggravated bat- "The police really hated us down there in tery. Served six months on juvenile Mississippi," Hallinan remembered. probation. 11111111 J "When they got the white kids in jail, they beat us up even worse than they beat up the black kids." When he returned to San Francisco, Hallinan became a member of the Con- Walking throughher West Side Chicago with the juvenile court system and for- gress of Racial Equality (CORE), the Na- neighborhood each morning on her way ever change her life. to school, 12-year-old Sally Henderson tional Association for the Advancement of Sally Henderson was born in Chicago on Colored People (NAACP), the Ad Hoc passed the young men on the corner yelling "rocks and blows." December 30, 1975. The oldest of three Committee to End Racial Discrimination, girls, Henderson and her sisters were and was one of the founders of San She crossed through gang-infested streets raised by her mother. Her parents were Francisco's W.E.B. DuBois Club. Hallinan by herself as she made her way to catch divorced and her father drifted out of her was active in organizing sit-ins of numer- the bus that took her to O.A. Thorpe, the life and into a lifelong struggle with drugs. ous San Francisco businesses which, at middle school for gifted students she at- Henderson's mother rose early every the time, had no African American em- tended on Chicago's North Side. On many morning to start her trek from Chicago's ployees. These included the Sheraton Pal- winter days, it was dark in the morning West Side to the suburbs where she sup- ace, Mel's Drive-in, and a Cadillac dealer- when she boarded the bus and by late ported the family by cleaning the homes ship on San Francisco's "Auto Row." afternoon when she was dropped off. of white families, supplementing her in- In total, Terence Hallinan was arrested 19 After her younger sister was robbed, come with public assistance. times during law school for his involve- Henderson and her family decided she "We struggled to make ends meet but I ment in peaceful, civil-rights demonstra- needed some protection. First, she car- didn't really understand this until I was tions. On one occasion, after protesting at ried a rock in a sock in her book bag. older," says Henderson. "We always had the Sheraton Palace, Hallinan was actuallyLater, however, she felt she needed more food on the table and clothing on our jailed at the same time as his mother and to defend herself and she started carryingbacks, although we depended on food older brother, Patrick. a "little blade" in her pocket, which she stamps and were often given hand-me- The California Supreme Court's clutched on her way to and from school. downs from some of the families my mom precedent-setting decision allowed Halli- "I never intended to use it," says Hender- worked for. My mom didn't let us see that nan to serve in the profession he had son, 23, as she reflects back on the inci- she was struggling. What I remember most worked so hard to enter about two years dent that would bring her into contact was that my mom never complained...she after the rest of his class had begun to always made out like she was lucky to practice law. In an almost triumphantly- have her job."

12 arun.11., gue

At Duke Ellington Elementary School, She remembers little of her courtroom ately needed someone to work through Henderson was singled out for her aca- experience, though she has bad memoriesthese tough issues. For the previous 6 demic potential and in the fifth and sixth of her public defender. years, from the time she was 6 years of grades was placed in a program for gifted age, she had been sexually molested by students. She won a school-wide essay "He was a big, mean black guy with a an older cousin. When she tried to tell her contest, writing on the topic "What I wouldnasty attitude, who had read the police relatives, they didn't believe her, taking do if I was Mayor." Her essay was chosen reports and thought I was this big crimi- the side of her cousinjust as he said as the best in the district. She remembers nal," Henderson says. "He wanted me to they would. Jordan's kindness and atten- attending Kennedy-King College for the do time in juvie." tive ear helped Henderson to work competition and thinking, for the first Henderson believes the public defender through the pain of the abuse. time, that she wanted to go to college. didn't care to listen to her or explain Henderson and Jordan continued to keep After graduating from the sixth grade, things to her mother and stepfather who in touch when she went to Lane Tech, an Henderson enrolled at O.A. Thorpe, fol- accompanied her to court: "The experi- academic high school with high entrance lowing the lead of most of her classmates ence was a nightmare. I remember crying standards. One day, after she and Jordan in the gifted program. When she got to a lot." had not spoken for several months, Jor- Thorpe, she felt estranged from the popu- dan showed up at Lane Tech while lar clique. "When I returned to school, I Henderson was sitting in study hall and told her about Project Lifeline, a program "I was the new girl, I had a shape, and was treated as a criminal .... developed by several probation officers the boys were attracted to me," says to offer college scholarships to juvenile Henderson. I'll never forget one teacher, who knew I wanted to be in court wards. A group of girls started harassing her, Jordan insisted that Henderson write a calling her embarrassing names, and television, told me that I would letter applying for the scholarship. bumping into her when they passed her never be a news reporter now in the halls. When Henderson's mother "She sat next to me and waited until I fin- complained to the principal, "he just that I had been arrested." ished the letter and then she fine-tuned it brushed it off," says Henderson, because and typed it for me," says Henderson. he said, "girls will be girls." "Before I knew it I was called for an inter- Henderson was sentenced to six months view and then I received a letter in the On one December day, two days before of probation for the knifing incidenther mail, telling me I could attend the college Henderson was to appear in a Christmas first and only offense. Her first probation of my choice, free of charge, for the next play, a group of girls boarded Henderson'sofficer was not much better than her law- four years." school bus and jumped her. yer. He would come by the house, take Project Lifeline was the brainchild of sev- "Before I knew it," says Henderson, "I out a pad and paper, write down a few things, and leave. But Henderson's for- eral probation officers at the court, says grabbed my blade and cut one of the girls Steve Eiseman, the probation officer who in the hand." tunes took a turn for the better when her case was reassigned to a new probation worked with Henderson after she re- officer, Karen Jordan. ceived the scholarship. One day, some She felt she needed to defend probation officers got together and be- "Jordan was so different, she would pick moaned the fact that children who fin- herself and she started carrying me up at home, take me out to eat, to pic- ished high school often didn't have the a "little blade" in her pocket. nics, to meet other kids, or just to talk," resources to continue their education. "It says Henderson. Even though she was was so rare that our kids were graduating "Before I knew it, i grabbed my only Henderson's probation officer offi- from high school that we felt it was tragic blade and cut one of the girls in cially for six months, Jordan remained hernot to do everything possible to assist the hand," friend and mentor for years. She took those who wanted to go on and further enderson says. Henderson to a career conference where their education," says Eiseman. Since Henderson met Mary Dee, a local televi- 1990, Project Lifeline has funded 80 chil- sion broadcaster, inspiring Henderson to Henderson was arrested, taken to the po- dren to go to college and apprenticeship continue her pursuit of a career as a tele- programs. Currently, there are 40 children lice station, and charged with aggravated vision reporter. battery. After she was processed by the in the program. In addition to providing police, she was released to her mother. "Jordan came into my home, she got to financial support for college, the program She was suspended for two weeks from know me, and she showed me that she also provides mentoring, supportive ser- school and told that she was not welcome genuinely and honestly cared," says vices and social opportunities for the chil- back for eighth grade. Henderson. "She had a special spirit, a dren who receive scholarships. gift at being able to relate with young "When 1 retuskled to school," says Henderson used the scholarship to go to people like me...I can't begin to thank her Parkland Junior College in Champaign, Henderson,°"I was treated as if I was a enough for what she did for me." criminal...l'll never forget one teacher, Illinois and then transferred to Illinois who knew I wanted to be in television, What Jordan did not knowbecause State University ("ISU") in Normal. told me that I would never be a news re- Henderson has only begun talking about Henderson went to ISU in part to break off porter now that I had been arrested." it recentlywas that Henderson desper- a relationship with a high school boyfriend

13 14 BEST COPY AVALABLE that had soured shortly after she gave birth to their daughter, Jazzlyn, on July 7, Ronald C. Laney 1997. She and "Jazz" moved to ISU to Age:53 make a clean break. Occupation: Director, Child Protection At ISU, Henderson pursued her dream of Division, Office of Juvenile Justice and becoming a television broadcaster. In her senior year, she hosted "First at Five," a Delinquency Prevention, U.S. Depart- talk show on T.V. 10, ISU's Cable Access ment of Justice; former juvenile proba- Channel. She was a producer, editor, tion officer, St. Petersburg, Florida; writer, and reporter on the show, which Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps. aired once a week for 14 weeks. She also Residence: Dale City, Virginia. served as a news reporter and news an- chor for T.V. 10. She graduated in May Education:University ofSouth Florida 1999 with a degree in communications and University of Tampa. and now works as an intern at WEEK, the local NBC affiliate in Bloomington, Illinois. Delinquency History: Adjudicated This October, Henderson will marry her delinquent for larceny, disorderly con- fiancé, a sociology major at ISU. duct (fighting), and drinking as a minor. Henderson reflects positively on her juve- Served a handful of sentences in juvenile court experience. "What started out nile detention, and spent close to a as a nightmare, turned out to be a bless- year at a State training school in ing....) doubt that I'd be where I am at to- Marianna, Florida. day if I hadn't been brought to court," says Henderson. "If I could do one thing to improve the system," says Henderson, The system was ready to write Ronald dren who are reported missing in America "it would be to fill it with people like Laney off. He stood before a judge in each year. It was a tough journey from jail Karen and Steve, people who really care, criminal court who was ready to throw to earning a top Justice Department post. who take the time to find out what a child the book at him because of his delinquent During the Vietnam War, where Laney is thinking." past. Laney had previously been before a served two tours "in country" as a Marine juvenile court judge for breaking into Staff Sergeant, he lost an eye, perma- cars, stealing liquor from restaurants and nently injured his arm, and spent 14 "Jordan [her probation officer] picking fights with school kids and sail- months rehabilitating in a Naval hospital. came into my home, she got to ors. After serving 10 months in a Florida But the decorated veteran, who proudly training school for boys, and after numer- displays the Marine seal on the front of know me, and she showed me ous stays in the local juvenile detention his desk, doesn't regret a moment. that she genuinely and honestly center, Laney was now facing adult time. At 17 he was old enough to be held in a "They don't take bad kids like me any- cared.... Ican't begin to thank Florida jail even though the law he was more," he says, lamenting the loss of the her enough for what she did." charged with violating, drinking as a mi- military as an option for delinquent nor, was not a serious offense. youth. "I met lots of people military with similar backgrounds. They also had a Henderson is disturbed by the trend in "You better get something together," the choice: the military or jail. We've lost an society to try kids in adult criminal court. judge told him. A police officer who had opportunity to give youth a chance at a "That's the worst thing you could do to a picked Laney up a number of times said, different life." child," says Henderson, the anger rising "you need to get out of here, kid, you need to get out and do something." Laney Born to a poor family in Kannapolis, in her voice. "Even though children may North Carolina, Laney, his mother, and his commit adult crimes, they are still chil- got the message. After the juvenile court judge, his probation officer and local po- four siblings were frequently abused by dren. What these children need are their fatheran alcoholic. people who honestly and genuinely lice pleaded his case, the criminal court care about them." judge agreed to drop the charges. The "One time, a day after he got his paycheck juvenile court judge then washed his and was drinking, my dad came home, Henderson cares about them. She wants record clean. That cleared the way for and tried to kick my cat," Laney reports. young girls in the inner city who have Laney to enlist in the Marines. Within 30 "He missed and kicked the wall. Then he shared similar experiences to know that days he was off to Paris Island and, even- got angry and decided he would kick me, with self-determination, love from others tually, to Vietnam. because it was my cat. He kicked me like and faith in God, they can overcome seem- you would kick a football, but that was ingly insurmountable obstacles. She plans Today, Laney, 53, directs the Child Protec- tion Division for the Office of Juvenile Jus- pretty much routine." One day, when his on applying her communications skills to father was out drinking, he, his mother, become a motivational speaker, using her tice and Delinquency Prevention, a Justice Department program that coordinates and siblings slipped away, fleeing to Jack- story to give hope to others. "I feel like I sonville Beach, Florida. have to do this," says Henderson, "It must research, training and technical assistance be why I went through this." and grants to find the thousands of chil-

14 15 111111010:Mull/1101*./tEnekt rePiLiiIi &Al

Even though an older sister already lived his ten months at Marianna than did his "I dealt with hardened delinquents," there and was somewhat established, the experiences with the toughened kids. "I Laney says. "The social worker would move was traumatic. knew some of them had been in there look at a kid I worked with and say: three times, and were headed to prison. I They're easily aggravated and can't put a "Coming from a very rural community, just decided, this is not for me." complete sentence together. And the where religion was a big factor in our kids would come to me and say: Could lifestyle, I suddenly was an urban kid," he He studied hard, working most of his way you talk to us in street language and cut says. "I got introduced to crime real towards his high school diploma, spend- the therapy stuff. Without saying any- quick." As soon as he arrived, Laney says ing the rest of the time picking up medical thing, they knew I had been there, and he started to hang around with "the devi- skills as a nursing assistant in the school's they knew I cared. They also knew my ant" crowd. "We kind of rumbled on the clinic. He was planning to pull his life military background and not to mess beach, like, all the time," he says. together when he got out, but when he around with me." returned to Jacksonville Beach, he quickly At 15, Laney was first picked up for fight- fell back in with the same crowd, and was ing on the beach, earning him a day in arrested for drinking on the beach. Judge "The adult system is a failure at juvenile detention. Next, he and two Weinguard and Officer Starnes stepped in, adults broke into a fancy French restau- pleading with the criminal court judge to rehabilitation, with high rant, and stole 28 bottles of liquor. When give Laney the option of joining the recidivism. Why would we want one of the adults was arrested and con- Marines. "They knew, and I knew, I had to fessed to their burglary, the police came get out of there," he says. They saw some- to put a troubled kid into a by Laney's eighth grade classroom and thing in Laney that was worth saving. system that doesn't give him a dragged him out of class. He was put in detention for ten days. chance to succeed? It doesn't It wasn't long before Laney was on a first "They [the Marines] don't take make any sense." name basis with Judge Weinguard, the bad kids like me anymore. I met juvenile court judge, and Officer Starnes. One night, Laney was again arrested for a lot of people in the military Laney joined the Office of Juvenile Justice fighting. He thought he was about to be with similar backgrounds, and and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) in thrown in the back of an empty police car, 1979, quickly working his way up through and taken in for another short stint in ju- we've lost an opportunity to the ranks by developing juvenile training venile detention. Instead, he discovered give youth a chance at a programs for law enforcement. Once, the Chief of Police came from Jacksonville that Judge Weinguard and his probation different life." officer were sitting in the back of the po- Beach to attend one of Laney's trainings. lice car, waiting to throw the book at him. "He remembered me," Laney says with a He spent 30 more days in detention be- Staff Sergeant Laney had a stellar seven sly smile. "He said he could not believe it fore he was shipped off to the State train- year career in the Marines. He had stints was me." ing school in Marianna, way up on the in Hawaii, served as an instructor at In 1994, Laney was appointed Director of Florida Panhandle. Quantico, Virginia, and worked at the the Missing and Exploited Children's Navy/Marine prison in Portsmouth, New Program, the Division in OJJDP that coor- Laney was on a first name basis Hampshire. During that time, he earned a dinates and trains local officials and prac- GED, three presidential unit citations, sev- titioners on how to deal with child abduc- with Judge Weinguard, the eral personal citations, and a Purple tion and exploitation. juvenile court judge, and Officer Heart. He served two tours in Vietnam, but was badly injured when during a fire "When I started working on these issues, Starnes. fight, he was hit by a rocket. The explo- they weren't in the paper every day," he sion took off part of his shoulder and says. "Now, people expect, rightly so, that blinded him in the right eye. He spent 14 society has an obligation to protect chil- It was an old-style reform school, com- months in a hospital and was medically dren by responding effectively to missing plete with corporal punishment. The com-discharged from the Marines in October, and exploited children cases." pound had a yellow building called "the 1970. white house" where beatings were doled The office works to quickly get informa- out for transgressions. Laney was beaten Laney says he was drawn towards crimi- tion out on missing children, trains law with a leather barber's strap twice: once . nology when he resumed academic life at enforcement on how to coordinate a for smoking a Winston cigarette, and an- a junior college. He was interested in search for an abducted child, and how to other time for fighting with another kid onhelping kids like himself. While working respond to child abuse and exploitation. towards an advanced degree in criminol- the basketball court. "They were careful "What you see today that you didn't see to hit you with your Levis on," he says. "It ogy, he worked part-time as a juvenile probation officer. He says he had a specialten years ago is that law enforcement has never left a scar." He says the beatings a plan," he says. "When children are made less of an impression on him during affinity for the kids he worked with.

15 reported missing, they know it is important to move quickly to start the search. Luis Rodriguez Law enforcement is also learning the link between child abuse and juvenile violence Age:45 and the dangers of the Internet." Occupation: Poet, Author, and Jour- From the vantage of his busy Justice De- nalist. partment office, Laney wishes he could Residence: Chicago, Illinois. have saved his mother the grief of watching his slide towards delinquency and Education:California State University. thinks parents like his need help. "If I was changing the system, I would add more Delinquency History:Shoplifting, bur- programs to help people like her." He also glary, robbery and attempted murder in thinks that some form of mandatory relation to his membership ina gang. service, if not an outright military draft, Spent time in jail, both as a juvenile, would give kids like him an important and for a short time as an adult. Ar- option. "What we do now is, stick them in rested for disturbing the peace at an a boot camp and then put them right back antiwar march. into the same environment where they ran into trouble with no support system. What's the sense of that?" He is particularly concerned with the trend towards passing new laws to blend the criminal and juvenile justice systems. In October 1998, the reauthorization of Sitting inthe back of a black bus chained covetously eyed the other boys. For his program was tied to Senate juvenile to other young Chicano boys and men, hisRodriguez, it was do or die. He knew that justice legislation that would have man- head still groggy from the blow of a sher- if he showed fear, he and the other boys dated lowering the age by which kids iff's billy club, and his eyes still burning could probably be raped or killed. could be tried, and imprisoned, as adults. from a macing, 16-year-old Luis Rodriguez Laney shakes his head in disgust. wondered what was in store for him. Years of La Vida Loca, "The Crazy Life" gang membership, violence, drugs and "First, in criminal court, what you have Earlier that day, August 29, 1970, he was watching friends diehad prepared done is extend the time that they can one of 30,000 Chicano protesters gatheredRodriguez for this moment. He stared commit petty acts without sanction, and in East L.A.'s Belvedere Park to oppose down his assailant, signaling that he lock them up as criminals, when they do the Vietnam War. Still a member of South would not go down without a fight. The something serious," he says. "Second, San Gabriel's Las Lomas gang, Rodriguez older cons backed down and left the let's face it, the adult system is a failure at was beginning to shed his gang "jacket" other boys alone. rehabilitation, with high recidivism. Why as he became swept up in a new kind of would we want to put a troubled kid into youth empowerment brewing in the bar- a system that doesn't give him a chance rioscommunity organizing and political They began shoplifting food,ut to succeed? It doesn't make any sense." protest. quickly moved to stealing cars, The bus' first stop was at juvenile hall but ripping off homes and sticking there was no room so Rodriguez was taken back to L.A. County Jail. Though it was ille- up trucks and stores for bigger gal, the police held Rodriguez and the loot. three other teens, including a terrified boy of 13, in the adult facility. They soon moved the four boys into the Hall of Jus- Although he survived, Rodriguez calls the tice jail, known as the Glasshouse, and time he spent in adult jail "his ten days in tossed them into "murderer's row" where hell." Throughout this stay, he kept up his the most hardcore criminals awaited trial. front but feared that at a moment's notice In the cell next to the boys was none other he or one of the other boys would be as- than Charles Manson, who soon began saulted. "Placing kids in adult jail cells is ranting and raving racial slurs and urging a guarantee that you will destroy them," the few white inmates to kill them all. says Rodriguez. Those who are assaulted "can't whine, can't cry, and can't tell no- But Manson's ravings were only the begin-body" because the abuse will only grow ning of Rodriguez's problems. Within min- worse. Those, like him, who were not as- utes after being placed in the cell, one of saulted, are still harmed because they are the murderers pressed a razor against forced to ally themselves with more crimi- Rodriguez's throat while several others nally sophisticated adults.

16 17 Rodriguez's teenage encounter with and two-by fours were raining down on whom he gives the pseudonym Chente Charles Manson is just one of many com- the boys' heads and destroying their car. Ramirez in his book. pelling stories recounted in his highly ac- claimed memoir, Always Running: La Vida From his perch in the pickup, Rodriguez Loca: Gang Days in L.A. The book chroni- observed the beating but felt almost "Youth is youth for a good oblivious to it. He was shaken from his cles every step in Rodriguez's evolution reason. Youth are very from a hardcore gang member to an ac- stupor when an older Lomas leader sud- complished poet and author. Rodriguez's denly thrust a rusty screwdriver into his malleable and it is society's life is a testament to the resiliency of chil- hand and led him to one of the wounded obligation to try to change them: dren, their capacity for change, and the boys. "Do it," directed the leader. Rodri- important role that committed adults guez followed orders, stabbing the 11 am living proof of the capacity must play in helping them gain control of already injured driver in the arm. He was for change." their destinies. now a full-fledged member of Lomas. As Rodriguez's criminal activity escalated, Born in El Paso, Texas in 1954, Rodriguez Ramirez played a pivotal role in changing was the son of a high school principal in a so did his drug use. He started using drugs when he was 12, sniffing spray paint, aero- Rodriguez's world view, channeling his large town on the Mexican side of the bor- rage into a constructive activism and as- der. Shortly after Rodriguez's birth, Rodri-sol, gasoline and anything else that would give him a cheap high. After a friend had sisting him to leave the gang. Rodriguez guez's father was jailed after a dispute was instantly drawn to Ramirez, a former with local politicians. As soon as he was to use mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to revive him, he stopped sniffing and moved counselor for the California Youth Author- released, the family fled Mexico for the ity, an experienced community organizer barrios of South Central and East L.A. on to reds (downers) and whites (uppers). Heroin soon followed. The drugs numbed and a native of East L.A.'s barrios who where they ultimately settled in a neigh- had come back after college. borhood known as South San Gabriel. his emotions and tended to meliorate Rodriguez's rage rather than fuel it. Ramirez was drawn to Rodriguez, at- Describing himself as a "shy and broken By 15, Rodriguez had been expelled from tracted by his thirst for learning. As a down" kid, Rodriguez was drawn to the youth, Rodriguez had read all the history gang life at 11. "We didn't call them school and thrown out of his house by his mother, who had tired of picking him up books about Mexico he could find in the gangs," says Rodriguez, "they were clubs library. He also read books like Claude or clicas," loose affiliations of neighbor- from police stations and waiting up nights wondering whether he'd come home alive. Brown's Manchild in the Promised Land hood teens who bonded together for and Alex Haley's The Autobiography of self-protection against other teens and He lived on the streets for a while, sleeping on the floors of friends' houses, crashing Malcolm X and later Puerto Rican Piri abusive police officers. Shortly after Thomas' Down These Mean Streets, auto- Rodriguez and three friends formed their in fields, in parks, in cars, or wherever he could get some sleep. He felt hopeless and biographical novels which spoke to and first club, "The Impersonations," Rodri- inspired Rodriguez. Ramirez agreed to guez's family moved to a new neighbor- contemplated suicide, even taking a blade to his wrists on one occasion. mentor Rodriguez on one condition: hood smack in the middle of the territory Rodriguez had to reenroll in high school. presided over by the area's two largest gangsLas Lomas and Sangra. The Youth Center director, Rodriguez agreed to give high school a second chance. He immediately became a For a while, Rodriguez and three friends Chente Ramirez, agreed to leader of the Chicano student club and tried to operate outside the confines of mentor Luis on one condition: soon led the charge to break down the the two rival gangs. They began shoplift- barriers between white and Mexican stu- ing food from the local grocery store but he had to reenroll in high dents. He and a female co-leader became quickly moved to stealing cars for a local school. the first Mexicans to be the school's mas- chop shop operator. They then started cots "Joe and Josephine Aztec"dazzling ripping off homes and sticking up trucks the judges with their well rehearsed au- and stores for bigger loot. But Las Lomas As the violence between Las Lomas and thentic folkloric routine in full Aztec cos- and Sangra began taking over all outside tume dress. He also organized a success- clubs to consolidate their power. Sangra gangs escalated and the death toll mounted, the South San Gabriel commu- ful walkout for Chicano studies, helped Rodriguez and his friends were forced to open up the football team to Mexican choose. nity rallied to halt the violence and re- claim their youth. Funded by federal anti- players and convinced the school to make Rodriguez chose Las Lomas and was initi- poverty money, community centers soccer a school-sponsored sport. sprung up throughout East L.A.'s barrios, ated into the gang with a barrage of blows Rodriguez's creative side also blossomed. and kicks from steel-tipped boots. Later offering dropout programs, job place- Inspired by a book of Mexican muralists, on the night of his initiation, Rodriguez ments, counseling and recreational and Rodriguez led teams of youth gang mem- and the other newcomers were piled into cultural opportunities for young people. Rodriguez hung out with other Lomas bers throughout the nearby city of a pickup and driven into rival Sangra ter- Rosemead, painting vivid and colorful mu- ritory. The truck pulled up beside a group members at the John Fabela Youth Center rals, doing their best to copy the Mexican of teens in a Desoto who were listening to (named after a fallen comrade), where he first met the Youth Center's director, masters Rivera, Siquieros, and Orozco. He music and drinking beer. Soon, tire irons began writing in earnest, compiling his thoughts and reflections on gang life in a On the day of his trial, Rodriguez's Public a company dedicated to publishing the journal and pounding out a weekly col- Defender urged Rodriguez to enter a plea. works of young, mostly minority literary umn in the school's newspaper. Rodriguez wanted to tell his side of the voices. story but the PD kept saying the judge But just as Rodriguez's life started to turn would never believe him over the depu- In 1993, Rodriguez wrote Always Running around, he was pulled off course by "La ties. Ramirez urged Rodriguez to take the and dedicated the book to 25 close Vida Loca." When a friend from Lomas deal. Rodriguez swallowed his pride and friends who died during his days in Las was jumped and called a greaser by a pled guilty to drunk and disorderly con- Lomas. He also wrote the book as a gift to neighborhood club of white bikers, duct even though he wasn't drunk. He his own son, Ramiro, who had moved to Rodriguez was recruited to participate in had to spend nearly three months in a Chicago to live with Rodriguez as a teen- the payback. He shot one of the bikers, jail, but he escaped a longer stint in state ager but soon thereafter joined a gang. was arrested as he fled the scene, and prison. Rodriguez was unable to keep Ramiro was charged with attempted murder. from following in his footsteps. In 1997, His jail time set him too far back to con- Ramiro was convicted of attempted mur- Ramirez came to the rescue. He helped get tinue at Cal State. He stayed in the barrio, der and sentenced to 28 years in prison. Rodriguez out of jail and convinced worked odd jobs and attempted to medi- Rodriguez's parents to take him back in. ate a truce in the still-brewing gang war The tragedy of losing Ramiro to "La Vida The bikers refused to identify Rodriguez as between Lomas and Sangra. Viewed as a Loca" brought Rodriguez's whole family the shooter, choosing instead to pin the traitor, Rodriguez became a target of mem- closer together and helped crystallize for rap on the boy who had lent Rodriguez the bers of his own gang. When several life- Rodriguez what he wanted to do next with gun and with whom they had a long- long friends opened fire at him, he was fi- his life. running beef. Rodriguez's life was back on nally ready to leave the gang. Ramirez course. "I tried to save Ramiro but he saved me," again came to his rescue, hiding Rodriguez says Rodriguez, referring to the fact that When Rodriguez returned to school, he in a San Pedro housing project and helping he has become a more attentive father to learned that he had won a writing con- him find work outside the barrio. his children (he has two other children, test, earning him $250, a publishing con- For the next seven years, Rodriguez 10-year-old Ruben and 4-year-old tract and a plane ridehis firstto Ber- worked in steel mills, foundries, and con- Rodriguez Jacinto) and a better husband keley. Unbeknownst to him, Ms. Baez, a struction sites in the industrial corridor to his wife Trini. He has finally stopped school counselor, had entered Rodri- that ringed L.A. He continued his commu- drinking and has poured his heart and guez's work in a Chicano literary contest. nity and organizing work and stayed out soul into Youth Struggling for Survival Rodriguez graduated high school and of the barrio and the gang life. He married ("YSS"), a program he founded to help with Ms. Baez's and Ramirez's assistance, Camila and had two children, a daughter, Ramiro and other gang members tran- he received an Economic Opportunity Andrea, and a son, Ramiro. scend violence and gang involvement. Program ("EOP") Grant to attend Califor- nia State University. But something was missing. His new life, YSS is Rodriguez's attempt to replicate the consumed with work, left little time for type of mentoring program developed by Rodriguez began California State in Los writing. Without an outlet to unleash his Ramirez a generation earlier in East L.A. Angeles in the fall of 1972, majoring in pain, he began to drink heavily. His mar- Through the program, which involves 15 Broadcast Journalism and Chicano stud- riage crumbled and Rodriguez soon saw youth and eight adults, Rodriguez aims to ies. He worked odd-jobs to help pay for little of his two small children. help young people take charge of their college, joined Mexican clubs at school lives. The program builds trusting and re- and wrote for a club's newspaper. He also This time, writing brought Rodriguez out spectful relationships between youth and trained and organized youth from neigh- of his despair. When he was fired from his elders, exposes the youth to a heavy dose boring high schools. He met a beautiful job in 1979, he moved back to East L.A. of the arts and culture and empowers girl, Camila Martinez, who would later and got a job paying $100 a week working them by giving them leadership roles in become his wife. But a chance encounter for an East L.A. paper. He went back to keeping the peace within the community. with the L.A. County Sheriffs again set school, got a certificate in a journalism him back. training program and soon began working Ramiro's experience has also inspired regularly as a crime reporter for a San Rodriguez to step up his advocacy efforts At a club one evening outside the barrio, Bernardino daily. Unable to find a newspa-on behalf of youth. He now speaks out Rodriguez saw several L.A. County Sher- per job at a big Los Angeles daily, in 1985, forcefully against many of today's policies, iffs assaulting a woman. When he called he moved to Chicago. like trying children as adults. "Youth is out for them to leave her alone, they youth for a good reason" says Rodriguez. pounced on him, cuffed him, and tossed In Chicago, Rodriguez's career took off. When youth commit murder, "it is a grave him into a squad car. He was charged with He published two books of poems, Poems crime" but it is not "an adult crime." assaulting a police officer and, for the Across the Pavement and The Concrete first time in his life, faced hard prison River, both of which won prestigious liter- "Youth are very malleable and it is society's obligation to try to change them: I am living time as an adult. ary awards. He founded Tia Chucha Press, proof of the capacity for change."

18 15 his friends sometimes stole 22 rifle shells Senator ADin Shmpson from local hardware stores. Later, when he and his friends were older, Simpson Age: 67 returned money to one of the stores he Occupation: Director, Institute of Poli- shoplifted, cutting and pasting a message tics, Harvard University, Former U.S. on the envelope in newspaper letters which read, "we did wrong, here's your Senator (R- WY), 1978-1996. bucks." Residence: Boston, Massachusetts; When he was 17, he and four of his Cody, Wyoming. friends loaded into his family's second Education: Bachelors and Law De- car, an old Nash and drove off to shoot at grees from the University of Wyoming, mailboxes on a dusty rural road. "I was a crack shot," says Simpson. He hit a num- and several honorary degrees from ber of targets, blasting holes in the mail. universities around the country. But he says one of his less accurate Delinquency History: Served two friends killed a cow hidden in a willow years on probation for destruction of patch. They also shot up a road grader. federal property (vandalized mail- When the postmaster asked around, he be- boxes); shoplifting; arrested for breach- gan hearing descriptions of five kids making ing the peace as a young adult. much noise, exploding fire crackers and firing off shots, all from a vehicle resem- bling Milward Simpson's car. Alan Simpson soon confessed, and he and the four other boys pled guilty to destroying federal prop- At the kick-off rallyfor his 1978 campaign America's juvenile justice system, Simp- erty in the Cheyenne federal court. As it for the U.S. Senate in Jackson, Alan Simp- son is as enigmatic as he was in the Sen- was their first known offense, the judge sen- son spied a familiar face in the sea of ate. While he is disappointed with "do tenced them to 2 years probation and or- people near the stage. Simpson waded gooders" in the juvenile justice system dered them to make restitution for the mail- into the crowd to meet his old friend, J.B. who are often "snowed" by "cunning juve- boxes, the road grader and the dead cow. Mosley, and asked him to join his family niles," he is also critical of the demoni- Mosley was assigned to monitor Simpson and campaign workers around the po- zation of youth by the media, and of the and the other miscreants. dium. Modestly, Mosley declined the offer. mandatory sentences that are often rob- "This is your day," he told the would-be bing kids of the kind of second chances Senator. But Simpson could not let the he had. "Anybody in society, unless they moment pass. After his introductory re- are totally out to lunch, can marks, Simpson told the crowd there was "Anybody in our societyunless they are someone present who had a great influ- totally out to lunchcan understand that understand that a guy of 22 or ence in his life and had helped him to a guy of 22 or 25 is not the same guy of 25 is not the guy of 17." make it to this moment: his probation of- 17," Simpson says. "I don't know what ficer, J.B. Mosley. The crowd was sur- they [the juvenile justice system] are do- prised, but also quite moved. "I tell you, I ing right, but it is sure a lot more right Simpson remembers the distressing looks think I got every vote in that building," than what they were doing wrong." his parents gave each other. "They must Simpson says with a chuckle. Alan Simpson, whose father Milward L. have thought, 'Where have we failed'," he says. "My mother was looking at my fa- The ex-Senator and one-time assistant Simpson was governor and U.S. Senator from Wyoming, grew up in a loving, stable ther, my father at my mother. My father Republican Leader of the upper chamber cried too, and I do remember that be- fondly remembers the caring relationship home in Cody, Wyoming. His mother, Lorna, once toldTimemagazine that cause I hadn't seen him do that before," he shared with Mosley during a time Simpson says. when Simpson describes himself as being "Alan did have a temper," and she re- "on the edge." called punishing him for throwing rocks For the next two years, J.B. Mosley visited at other kids. Simpson and his friends whenever he When he was 17, after he pled guilty to "My mother was near tears half the time made the trip into Cody, even seeing them charges of destroying federal property by at home, in the pool hall, at school and on shooting mailboxes, Simpson met Mosley while I was growing up, because of my always being on the edge," Simpson says. the basketball court. Simpson remembers while serving out a two-year term on pro- Mosley being a wonderful guy who would bation. Today, Simpson says this second He and his friends graduated from throw- sit down with him, asking him how he was chance helped him to become an attorneying rocks to playing with 22 caliber rifles doing in school, keeping tabs on Simp- and to go on to politics, capped off by at a nearby ravine: The boys would fire offson's success on the high school basket- serving 18 years in the U.S. Senate. At 67, rounds at each other, bouncing bullets off ball team and his scholastic work. Simpson continues his commitment to the rocks, just to see how close they public life as Director of the Institute of could get without actually hitting each "I didn't know him intimately, but I did Politics at Harvard University's Kennedy other. The game, Simpson says with re- know that'he cared about me," says School of Government and also teaching markable understatement, "is rather haz- Simpson. "He paid attention to me, and I at the graduate level. Discussing ardous, actually!" To play, Simpson and

20 liked him very much. He didn't preach...hequents and was frequently approached by be aware of his behavior," Simpson says. listened." parents who knew his history with the "So, suddenly, from eight years back Everyone in town knew about the incidentlaw. One of the kids whose case he han- comes a guided missile aimed at Thomas' and jokes about it followed him through dled was an 18-year-old who stole a car brain," he says. high school. Kids would call into a local and drove it to Seattle. The man later became Simpson's chief of staff. radio station request line to have the old The ex-Senator seems to have an country western song, "There's a hole in "Some were surprised when I was back to my mailbox," dedicated to Simpson. But Cody to practice," he says. "They would unwavering sense that most kids the attention he and his friends received see me and say, 'I didn't think you had the will rise past their youthful from his probation officer made a differ- guts to come back to this town after all ence in his and his friends' lives. Of the you did around here.' And I would just indiscretions, despite the `do four other mailbox shooters, Simpson smile and say, 'Well, everybody gets a sec- gooders.' says one became a school teacher and ond chance. principal, another became a school administrator, and one worked in the space When he worked juvenile cases, Simpson "I just bristled, because, I thought of the industry. "Another died in his youth, but believed in tough love, and tough talk. "I'dfact that I had been on federal probation every one of the others went on to a suc- go right for the jugular. 'Look you big for two yearsso many years ago," he cessful life," he says. baby, I'm going to tell you about the real says. "1 thought, this is violently unfair. world, and if you don't like it, you'll end This reminds me of what could have hap- up being as important as someone's spit pened to me." "They would call and say, `I in the breeze.' Sometimes, the only way to get their attention is to use profanity, His stormy relationship with the media didn't think you had the guts to whether you are at Harvard University or also influences his view of the way report- come back to this town after in the jail with a client in Cody." ers cover juvenile crime. what you did around here.' And After nearly 13 years in the Wyoming leg- "The media will always portray the bar- 11 would say, 'Well, everybody islature rising from majority whip to ma- barism and the viciousness of the worst jority leader to speaker "pro-tern," Simp- ones," he says. "The 11-year-old who as- gets a second chance." son took his father's Senate seat in saults and kills the little girl in a back Washington. Over his 18 years in the capi- lot....yes, that's shocking enough but then tol, he held the second highest leadership you find out, well, it might not have been Simpson was the only one of the group to position within the Senate GOP, while the 11-year-old at all. The high drama of get into trouble again as an adult. When staking out some rather libertarian posi- the 24-hour news cycle have many of he was 21, he got into a shoving match tions. He is a strong defender of abortion them portrayed as monsters." with a drunken friend in Laramie, Wyo- rights, for sensible immigration policies ming. A police officer, who mistook the and supports the "decriminalization" And yet, the ex-Senator seems to have an shoving for a fight, cracked Simpson's ("not legalization," he says) of marijuana. unwavering sense that most kids will head with a billy club and Simpson lashed and dorise past their youthful indiscre- back. "A real mistake!" Simpson states His thoughts on the criminal justice sys- tions, despite the "do gooders." He recalls dryly. The police made him spend the tem are harder to peg. He strongly be- the story of a kid who came before him night in jail. He and the friend were lieves in giving kids a second chance and while he was a city attorney. Along with a charged with breaching the peace, and he that one's youthful crimes should be put group of other children, the boy assaulted was released on a $300 fine. His parents in their proper perspective by thoughtful a Spanish teacher on the streets of Cody, found out, and he again earned the an- people. But he also supports the court's hurling broken bottles and racial slurs at guish of his father. discretion in making juvenile records him. Simpson recalls that the parents of widely available. all the boys could not believe that their "The older you get, the more you realize "little dears" could have committed such their disappointment is so real," Simpson "I say, expose more of the ornery little law-a crude and cruel act. Always the icono- says. "But you also come to realize your breakers," he says. "It sure got my atten- clast and believing that brutal honesty is own attitude is stupefying, and arrogant, tion when I knew people knew about me!" the best policy, Simpson put the teacher and cocky, and a miserable way to live." Still, he acknowledges how that system up on the stand, "to tell every word and From then on, Simpson went straight. He leads to abuse. He is pained by the storiesdescribe every action." graduated with a bachelors degree in of people who smoked marijuana as kids, "Oh, God, it was wonderful to look at 1954 and married his girlfriend, Ann and then, 15 years later, are barred from these doting parents and see them all Schroll, now his wife of 45 years. After a joining the FBI and law enforcement. In squirm," he says, again with a chuckle. stint in the army in Germany, he attained 1991, when Simpson earned the ire of "They couldn't believe their children a law degree from the University of Wyo- women's groups for his strident, some would do that. Those boys all went on to ming in 1958. He worked in his dad's law would say belligerent, questioning of various degrees of success. All did well. firm for 18 years in Cody. As he and Ann Anita Hill during the Clarence Thomas Now, there was a lot of stuff to their reha- raised three children (Bill and Colin be- confirmation hearings, the specter of his bilitation, and I'm not a shrink, but those came lawyers and Susan is a commercial past delinquency hung over him. who do turn it all around with the great art dealer), Simpson was often appointed help of othersI say God bless 'em!" by the courts to represent juvenile delin- "Remember, she wasn't charging him with sexual harassmentshe just wanted us to

20 21 -^*

Ironically, Thomas' delinquency came at a Deffick Thomas3 time when he had all the material posses- sions he wanted. The Air Force had com- Age: 32 (deceased) pensated him for his father's death, and Former Occupation: Linebacker, Kan- Thomas used his share to buy bikes, mo- sas City Chiefs; Founder, Third and peds, sports equipment and many other fashionable luxuries that other teens Long Foundation, a program to help craved. inner-city children learn how to read. "I wasn't content with having everything, Former Residence: Kansas City, that was too easy," said Thomas. So he Missouri. began acquiring things the hard way by Education: University of Alabama, stealing them. According to Thomas, his crew "could raise or lower the crime rate major in criminal justice and social of Perrine on any given day if they chose work. to." He and his friends started stealing Delinquency History: Burglary and bikes, moved to mopeds, then motor- auto-theft. Referred to juvenile deten- cycles, and finally cars. Along the way, the group collected their own arsenal of tion for 30 days, and sent to the Dade weapons because "every time we stole a Marine Institute, an alternative school car there was a weapon in it." for youth for six months. Court ordered restitution on a charge of auto-theft Thomas' delinquency also occurred as he when he was 18. began to blossom as an athlete. He excelled in all sports but was especially adept at football and track. He was also a competitive BMX bike racer, rising to the rank of top rider in his age group in the State of Florida. Between sports and school, Thomas was busy, but when unsu- Tears rained down his face as his mother Thomas would meet several people who pervised and with his peers, trouble was cradled 14-year-old Derrick Thomas, al- helped him turn his life around. His juve- never far away. ready over six feet tall, in her arms. After nile court experiences led him to set up It was with his peers that Thomas picked years of beating the system, of committing his own foundation for troubled inner-city up his first and only juvenile charge. To- crimes and not getting caught, of conning youths and inspired him to use his life to wards the end of 9th grade, Thomas and adults with his engaging smile and winning make a difference on behalf of other three of his friends planned to burglarize personality, Thomas' number had finally troubled youths. a home in the affluent section of town. come up. He was going to juvenile jail. Thomas was born in Miami, Florida on Neighbors spotted the boys entering the Placed on home confinement while await- New Year's Day, 1967. He was raised by home and called the police. After a long ing trial on a burglary charge, his first ju- his mother Edith and his grandmother foot chase, Thomas was caught as he tried venile court referral, Thomas repeatedly Annie Addams in Perrine, a middle-class to cross a park. He was taken to the juve- left the house. His pre-trial services of- neighborhood in Dade County. Soon after nile detention center, where he remained ficer, Ms. Gibson, had reached her break- Thomas was born, his father, Robert Tho- for a day before appearing in court. ing point. She pulled Thomas out of class mas, enlisted in the Air Force, rising and summoned him and his mother to her through the ranks to become one of a se- office to break the bad news. For the next lect few black pilots. Around Christmas According to Derrick, his crew 30 days, Thomas was going to be locked 1972, just before Thomas' sixth birthday, "could raise and lower the crime up in juvenile hall. Capt. Robert Thomas' B-52 plane was shot down during a bombing mission over rate on any given day if they At the time, "getting locked up seemed North Vietnam. First thought to be "miss- chose to." like the worst thing that could happen to ing in action," Capt. Thomas was finally me," says Thomas, who went on to be- declared "legally dead" in 1980, shortly come a ten-time All-Pro Linebacker for thebefore Thomas' 13th birthday. To Thomas, his first overnight stay at the Kansas City Chiefs and one of the N.F.L.'s detention center was no big deal. all time sack leaders. But getting involved It was around this time that Thomas in the juvenile justice system actually started getting into trouble. He began to "I knew everybody there and was pretty turned out to be "one of the most important hang around with some boys from Circle sure I'd be going home because I was a breaks I ever got." Through the court, Plaza, the housing projects on the other first-time offender," he said. His first court side of the large park which divided those appearance was also uneventful and brief. with means from those without. Four of A trial date was set, and he was set free 'We regret to report that Derrick Thomas died on the boys were his cousins and the rest he but placed on home confinement. When February 8, 2000, from complications following an had known since elementary school or he promptly violated the conditions of his automobile accident. His spirit and contributions live had met at the park where he and all the release, however, his pretrial officer had on in his Third and Long Foundation. other local teens spent their free time. him locked up.

21 22 Mr,-,-"IFIr-M11,7117191,

"When Ms. Gibson told me I was going to school diploma and get a football scholar- 100-sack milestone faster than any other be locked up, I cried and cried and cried ship to college. He finished the program linebacker in league history. to my mama," said Thomas. "Reality hit. in record timeapproximately four I wasn't going home tomorrow." monthsand soon reenrolled at South His stint in detention was more painful. Miami High. "The stigma that is put on kids He got into several fights and spent some Back at South Miami, Thomas lettered in in the juvenile justice system is time in solitary confinement. Things got four sports: baseball, football, basketball, wrong; every kid is not a h ad much worse before they got better. While and track. After playing tight-end and run- in detention, he was assigned a counselor,ning back his junior year, a linebacker kid..an they need is an Ms. Judy Gordon, who met with Thomas spot opened up before his senior year. He opportunity." and told him that she was recommending seized the opportunity and earned All- he be sent to Dade Marine Institute (DMI), League Honors. The scholarship offers an alternative day school, in lieu of began rolling in. He chose the University His on the field efforts were eclipsed by straight probation. of Alabama and signed a letter of intent. his charitable efforts off the field. Early on All he had to do was finish the school at Alabama, while majoring in criminal DMI was a favorite program of Judge Wil- year without incident. liam Gladstone, the juvenile court judge justice and social work, Thomas vowed that he would "try to make a difference" who presided over Thomas' case. Judge But a lapse in judgment almost cost Tho- Gladstone accepted Ms. Gordon's recom- by working with kids in the juvenile jus- mas everything. A few days after his senior tice system. In his first year after joining mendation. As Thomas was leaving the prom, some of Thomas' buddies decided courtroom, in words which turned out to to steal a car for old times' sake. Thomas the Chiefs, Thomas contacted Judge be prophetic, Thomas' Public Defender met up with them later and allowed them Gladstone seeking advice on how he said to him, "I'm going to buy you some to store some of the stripped parts in his could help kids. Judge Gladstone told gloves for Christmas so you don't leave Thomas that there were many programs car. Later that evening, he began to have for kids once they got in trouble, espe- any of your fingerprints any place." misgivings. He remembered his Public Defender's parting words, and feared he cially children who were over 13, but a might have left his fingerprints on the sto- real need for prevention programs for kids aged 9 to 13. "When [they] told me 11 was len car. He convinced several friends, in- going to be locked up, II cried cluding one who also had a full athletic With help from Judge Gladstone and oth- scholarship, to go back and wipe down theers, Thomas founded the Third and Long and cried and cried to my mama car. The police were there waiting. Foundation, a program dedicated to help- .... ing inner-city children improve their read- Reality hit. l wasn't going Now eighteen, Thomas was an adult as far home tomorrow." as the law was concerned. He and his ing skills. Over the years, the program has friends spent a day in the county jail. grown to provide social, cultural, recre- When he finally got to court, he was ational, and educational opportunities to Thomas was despondent over being sent greeted by the same PD who had repre- 58 children in three Kansas City middle to DMI because it meant that he couldn't sented him in juvenile court. Standing be- schools. During the summer, the kids at- play football. But he soon took to the pro- fore the judge, his head bowed in shame, tend an outdoor summer camp with char- gram and began to excel. He developed a acter building activities modeled after Thomas caught one final break. The judge some of those Thomas experienced at special bond with the Director, Nick ordered him to make restitution and told Millar, a collegiate wrestler, and his group him "if I ever see you again, I'm going to DMI. Thomas' community service activi- counselor, Carl Lewis, a medical student give you the time you came for and the ties earned him the NFL's most presti- who worked at DMI when not in school. time I didn't give you this time." Thomas gious service awards, including the NFL They helped Thomas believe that he bolted from the court and never looked Edge Man of the Year and the Byron could play college football and get his de- back. "Whizzer" White Humanitarian Award. gree. The program, which featured incen- Former President George Bush chose Tho- tives for students who completed as- At Alabama, Thomas became one of the mas as the 832nd out of his 1,000 "Points signed tasks, inspired Thomas. He learnedmost dominant defensive players in the of Light"the only NFL Player to be so to set short-term, intermediate, and long- country. Regarded as the nation's finest honored. term goals, and he charted his daily pass-rusher, Thomas set a school record with a total of 52 quarterback sacks. In Thomas became a powerful advocate for progress. There was plenty of fun at the delinquent children; in 1991 he testified program as well, including canoe trips 1988, his senior year, he won the coveted Dick Butkus award as the top linebacker before a Congressional Subcommittee on and scuba diving excursions, novel and Crime and Criminal Justice, asking for an challenging experiences for inner-city in the country. Thomas was the first increase in prevention funding. Following kids who rarely ventured outside their round draft pick of the Kansas City Chiefs and the fourth pick overall in the draft, this appearance, he became the first non- neighborhoods. Supreme Court Justice to address the Mis- following Troy Aikman, Tony Mandarich, Most of the boys stayed at DMI for two or and Barry Sanders. souri General Assembly, urging State law- three years, earned their GEDs and stayed makers to provide Missouri children with out of trouble-82% of those in Thomas' Thomas had a stellar career with the the same opportunities that he had through group did not re-offend. Thomas, how- Chiefs, making All-Pro each of his 10 years DMI. In reflecting upon his experiences, ever, had higher ambitions. He wanted to in the league, becoming the Chief's all- Thomas was quick to credit the juvenile go back to South Miami, get his high time sack leader and surpassing the justice system as having made "all the

22 difference" in his life. "If I could do one all they need is an opportunity. The juve- corner from 7:00 to 11:30. He later took a thing to improve it, I'd want every kid in nile justice system gave me that second 4:30 a.m. paper job along with an after- the system to have the chance to go chance." school paper job working both from the through a program like DMI." time he was 12-years-old until he gradu- In public speaking engagements, Derrick ated from high school. Between football Thomas especially valued the fact that histold audiences the same thing he said in practice and work, "I didn't get a lot of past was kept confidential and that it was testimony before the United States Con- sleep during those days," he says with a his choice to reveal it: "Unless I give you gress and the Missouri General Assembly, smile. my background, you have no reason to words which are a fitting epilogue to this view me as other than the nice guy that profile: "I come to you today to say you A few years after he lost his job in the I've presented myself as to you," he said. can make a difference and to tell you that steelmill, Theodore Walton got a job as a "The stigma this puts on kids in the juve- there are any number of success stories janitor in the Pittsburgh Gimble's Depart- nile justice system is wrong; every kid is in the juvenile justice system, just like ment Store and a second job at night. not a bad kid, they may do bad things, but mine," he said. 4> "I hardly ever saw my father when he was working those two jobs," says Walton. "And I started to get out of control, not Hon. Reggke Cie Wanon listening to my mother, my machismo started to take over." Age:50 Walton's machismo manifested itself in Occupation:D.C.Superior Court fighting on more than one occasion. And, Judge since 1981. Former U.S. pros- on more than one occasion, the police got ecutor, Deputy "Drug Czar," and Senior involved. White House Advisor on Crime to "Those steel towns were tough little President George Bush. towns," he says. "There were a lot of bars Residence:Washington, D.C. and a lot of brawls and you had to be prepared to fight, or you had no manhood. Education: West Virginia State, Many of my former friends are either American University's Washington dead, or have been, or are currently in College of Law. prison, or on drugs or abusing alcohol." Delinquency History:Adjudicated Ironically, although Walton readily admits delinquent three times in juvenile court to his involvement in the fights for which for fightingwhile a teen. he appeared in court, his first encounter with the police was for a crime he did not commit.

"The principal benefit I derived They call it "the Home of Champions." worker like so many Donora residents, The small, otherwise obscure town of and his mother, Ruth Walton, was a from the juvenile justice system Donora, Pennsylvania is where Ken housewife. Walton came from an intact was the confidentiality of my Griffey, Sr., Stan Musial and a host of family, which was plunged into financial other fine athletes went to high school. In stress when the local steel mill closed in record, which meant that my fact, current star, Ken Griffey, Jr., was 1960, and his father was laid off. youthful indiscretions didn't born in Donora and started his baseball career as a little leaguer there. "At first, my father couldn't get a job, and prevent me from getting a there were no job opportunities for black It's also where Judge Reggie Waltona females in those days," he explains. "Be- football scholarship to college or former federal prosecutor and America's sides, my parents thought it was best if from becoming a lawyer." first Deputy Drug Czargrew up. Walton my mother stayed home and raised the had dreams of playing professional foot- three of us." ball and even received an athletic scholar- "The first time I was detained was a clas- ship to West Virginia State Collegebut Theodore Walton was paid $900 in sever- sic false arrest," he relates. "Some other not before three court appearances as a ance when the mill closed, $50 for each young black male had stolen something kid for fighting in what he describes as the year he worked there. And there was no off a delivery truck. The guy who did it "tough little steel mill towns" dotting the work to be had in, or anywhere near, looked nothing like me. I remember being Monongahela River. One of the fights the Donora. Since these were the days before angry about being suspected of commit- future-judge was involved in could have food stamps, Walton remembers his fam- ting the crime because the actual perpe- resulted in the victim's death, and served ily relying on surplus food provided by trator was one of the ugliest guys in as a wake up call, setting him on a course the government and what his father grew town," Walton says with a smile. "The for a stellar legal and political career. on a piece of land he had cleared. only reason I was detained is because I was a young black male." When Reggie Walton was born in 1949, his Reggie Walton was working by the time he father, Theodore Walton, was a steel was 10, selling newspapers on a street

23 ' MMOM.1,,OffMN7MV,, Milltr9W7VM.IMMM7 MOW 4avy.rRxmom. enr-qpron., aomapawn,

Walton's first two real encounters with Despite his troubles with the law, and his caught the boy who committed the stab- the lawin the ninth and eleventh minimal academic performance in high bing (who was himself shot and killed gradeswere for fighting. Some of the school, Walton continued to excel on his over a girl several years later) his prob- fights Walton was involved in were over a high school's football team as its starting lems were over. His assumption proved to girl while attending a dance. halfback. His play on the gridiron resultedbe correct. in athletic scholarship offers to a number of colleges, including West Virginia State "I saw my whole future flash before my "You ask anyone, and they'll tell College, which he ultimately attended eyes at that time," Walton relates. "It you I'm tough on crime," he but not before one final serious crime really had a profound effect on me." nearly derailed his career and his life, andWalton has never been in trouble since states. "And It have no problem threatened the life of another. that time. sending someone away for a "We had heard that there were some guys In Middletown that summer, Walton re- long time if II think it's up at the projects, messing with some of peatedly locked horns with his older necessary. But for a great many our girls," Walton remembers. "So we all cousin, Julius Neal, who himself had had piled into a truck to find them and teach some troubles as a youth and who saw of these kids, they need a them a lesson." Walton heading down a dangerous path. chance and an opportunity to Walton assumed that they were just going "Julius and I fought all the time about my turn themselves around." to rough these guys up and leave it at behavior," Walton remembers. that. But when they tracked one of the "'You're gonna blow it if you go to college kids down and started beating him up, and get into this type of trouble,' he "I didn't go to an actual court for any of one of the boys Walton was with took out would tell me." my cases," he recalls. "They held hearings an ice pick and started stabbing the un- right in the police station, with no law- suspecting boy. At West Virginia State, Walton made a con- yers. I just represented myself. Of course, scious decision to enter a scholarly frater- in all three cases, I did not prevail. Two of nity, as opposed to one full of athletes. He the court encounters resulted in verbal Walton's rise in the Regal chose the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity be- reprimands and the third a referral to ju- profession from that point can cause it had a reputation for turning out venile probation." black leaders like Rev. Martin Luther King, only be described as meteoric. Jr., Thurgood Marshall, and Adam Clayton "I received nothing from the juvenile au- Powell. thorities by way of supervision," Walton He became the Chief of the remembers. "But I got plenty of supervi- Career CriminUnit in the U.S. Walton struggled at first in college, not so sion at home, so I didn't really need it. much due to lack of abilityas subsequent The principal benefit I derived from the Attorney's Office in 1979 at the achievements would attestbut because juvenile system was the confidentiality of age of 30, and during his time in he had never focused on academics until my record, which meant that my youthful that post, he never lost a case. attending college. But he worked hard and indiscretions didn't prevent me from get- made Dean's List in his senior year. ting a football scholarship to college or At the age of 32, he was from becoming a lawyer." Still, with a poor showing on the law appointed by President Ronald boards, his chance of attending law As a high school junior, Walton discov- Reagan to the.C. Superior school appeared slim. Fortunately, he was ered his father's guns and his straight ra- Court, the second youngest enrolled in a program established by the zor and started sneaking them out of the federal government, the Council on Legal house tucked into his pants. Fortunately, judge ever appointed to the Education Opportunity (CLEO), which Walton was never arrested carrying the district bench. was specifically designed to increase the weapons. In fact, he never displayed the number of black attorneys, who consti- weapons in anger or threatened to use tuted about only 2 percent of America's them. Although he was stabbed nine times, the lawyers at that time. "Back in those days, you thought you victim did not die, partly because Walton In 1971, CLEO sent Walton to an intensive were a big man if you were merely carry- and a friend rushed him to a hospital. The summer-long program at Howard Univer- ing a gun and could show it off," he says. victim had nine puncture wounds in his sity School of Law in Washington, D.C. He "But if you used it instead of your fists, back and a broken nose and jaw. When graduated near the top of the class, earn- you were considered a punk." Walton learned that the boy's parents had ing an academic scholarship to American no car, he drove to their home, picked University's Washington College of Law. Around this time, Theodore Walton got them up, and took them to the hospital. tired of his son's behavior and disrespect Law school did not come easy for Walton, for Mrs. Walton. Reggie Walton considers The next day, the police questioned who had to study 12 to 13 hours a day, in it a turning point in his life when his fa- Walton, who was deliberately vague aboutaddition to the various jobs he worked to ther literally grabbed him by his shirt col- his involvement in the beating. At the supplement his scholarship and loans. He lar and ominously threatened that there time, his cousin, Ronnie Neal, was in town graduated in 1974 and took a job as a pub- was going to be a serious price to pay the for a visit. Walton and Neal left town the lic defender in Philadelphia. He left that next time the younger Walton disre- next day for Middletown, New York. job for a position at D.C.'s United States spected or failed to obey his mother. Walton assumed that, once the police Attorney's Office in 1976.

124 I _ Walton's rise in the legal profession from great many of these kids, they need a states. "But the vast majority of these that point can only be described as mete- chance and an opportunity to turn them- young people are going to be back on the oric. He became the Chief of the Career selves around." street sooner or later and we had better Criminal Unit in the U.S. Attorney's Office think of ways to help them turn their lives in 1979 at the age of 30, and during his "A lot of proposals have come out to just around or they're going to wreak havoc time in that post, he never lost a case. He lock 'em up and throw away the key," he on us." was promoted to Executive Assistant to D.C.'s U.S. Attorneythe number three Lawrence W position in the officea year later. At the age of 32, he was appointed by President Age: 23 Ronald Reagan to the D.C. Superior Court, the second youngest judge ever ap- Occupation: Corporate Tax Lawyer, pointed to the D.C. bench. former editor, The Columbia University Law Review. Eight years after he became a judge, Walton was introduced to William Residence: New York, New York. Bennett, the new Drug Czar, by his brother Bob Bennett who knew Walton Education: State University of New from his work in the U.S. Attorney's Of- York (Binghamton); The Columbia fice. William Bennett had been appointed University School of Law. by President George Bush to head the brand new Office of National Drug Control Delinquency History: Arrested for Policy, and his brother had gathered a few attempted murder, fighting and other knowledgeable colleagues to offer their crimes relating to his involvement with thoughts about drugs and crime at an in- an Asian gang. Spent a few days in a formal get-together. New York City jail cell and a brief pe- "I told him that, I don't mean to say that riod on probation. only minorities are involved with drugs," Walton says. "But that they are dispropor- tionately involved. You're going to need a minority at the top level of your adminis- It was a simple plan. Lawrence Wu would sent to adult criminal court in New York, tration, if you want to have credibility on walk down a street in New York City, try- and if found guilty, face long prison terms. this issue in minority communities." ing to look like an ordinary kid as he man- aged to hide a gun up his sleeve. If the "I was lucky in the sense that any differ- A few weeks later, William Bennett called then 15-year-old saw any members of a ent set of circumstances could have led to Judge Walton and, much to Walton's sur- rival Chinatown gang, his orders were to a very different result," Wu says. prise, offered him the number two spot in shoot them dead, and to toss the gun into Luck, and the law, allowed him to leave the Drug Czar's office. another gang's neighborhood. He would his street uniform of spiked, bleached Walton spent the next two years traveling then hop a cab to Times Square where he hair and black leather jackets behind him. over a half-million miles, spreading the would meet someone from his gang to Today, wearing neatly pressed khaki Bush Administration's anti-drug message smuggle him out of the city. pants and a dress shirt, the 23-year-old is across the country. When Florida Gover- For an hour, he paced up and down the at the top of Columbia's academic heap. nor Bob Martinez took over as Drug Czar rival gang's territory. "I was so nervous, Wu is editor-in-chief of the Columbia Law in 1991, Walton was made the Senior and I thought, I'm not standing around Review, one of the most prestigious law White House Advisor on Crime to Presi- here for another split-second with a gun journals in the country, and is about to dent Bush and was then reappointed by up my sleeve. I'm getting out of here." Re- embark on a career in corporate law. But Bush to the D.C. Superior Court. alizing how unprepared he was for gang- he counts his blessings. "I think it is definitely true that a system of second and Although he's only 50 years old, Walton is assigned killing missions, he later fired off a couple of practice shots inside the gang third chances is very important," Wu already talking about the time, a few says. "I know that from my own life." years from now, when he will be eligible hangout. for a reduced case load and senior status "My ear was shaking, and my arm nearly Getting to the Ivy League should have as a judge. But that's not because he flew off," Wu says. "I would have been been easier for Wu. The son of Chinese wants to take it easy. With his new free stunned by my own shot. Looking back immigrants who had degrees in engineer- time, he hopes to start a residential now, I know I would have gotten caught. It ing, law, and library sciences, both he and school for delinquent and otherwise at- was such a stupid plan." his two older brothers passed the test to risk youth, to work with young people gain entrance to Stuyvesant High who, like himself, hold promise for the As a student at Columbia University Schoolone of three top New York insti- future that is just waiting to be tapped. School of Law, Lawrence Wu knows the tutions that skims the cream of the crop waiver provisions in New York State that out of the city's public schools. While "You ask anyone, and they'll tell you I'm could have changed his life forever. He earning straight As in elementary school, tough on crime," he states. "And I have no knows now, kids as young as 13 who are family life became "dysfunctional" in his problem sending someone away for a longcharged with murder are automatically early teens after his father left home, time if I think it's necessary. But for a

25 2 saddling his mother with managing the arrested when the police broke up a fight. His mother got him a lawyer, who told home, and raising him. "I had an injury from the day before, so I him there was a chance he could go to jail was limping away while everyone was "We suddenly became lower middle for a couple of years. He was released to running," he says. He was held at the po- class," he says. "It always seemed like we his mother's custody, and in the interven- lice station on 23rd St. until his mother were teetering on bankruptcy." Starting in ing weeks, the person he had beaten re- came and had him released to her junior high, and continuing in high covered, and did not suffer any serious custody. school, Wu's grades began to slip. He long-term health consequences, and the charges were dropped. moved neighborhoodsfrom schools While on probation, he met a juvenile pro- where he was the only Asian child (and bation officer who graduated from Brook- Wu says the whole experience was a cata- often, the target of racial taunts)to a lyn Technical High Schoolone of New lyst for him to leave the gang. "It scared high school where half the kids were York's three specialized high schools, the bejesus out of me, and my other Asian, and where joining one of the half- along with Stuyvesant. "We had an instant friends started talking about going to col- dozen gangs was considered an instant connection, and because I was from lege and stuff like that," Wu says. "It made jump to "coolness." Stuyvesant, he said there couldn't be a me feel like, this gangster stuff is getting big problem," he says. "That was the last I old." heard of the charge." A student at The Columbia However, Lawrence Wu knew, you don't He was arrested for fighting a second time just leave a gang. One built-in safeguard is University School of Law, in Flushing, Queens. "They never asked that he had used a false name with his Lawrence Wu knows the for ID, so I gave a false name, and put gang, and they did not know where his waiver provisions in New York down my grandmother's address," Wu mother lived. At about the same time, says. "I never heard of it again, and for all people in his gang started getting killed, or State that could have changed I know, I could have a big fine accruing." arrested in an FBI sting operation. "A year later, there was an article showing that his life forever. He knows now, The game he played with the law caught twenty-five high up members of the gang up with Wu when he was arrested as an kids as young as 13 who are were sent to jail," he says. "Before that, a accomplice in a brutal beating of some- rival gang started this war campaign charged with mur er are one he thought was a rival gang member. against us, and people started dying. I was "One of my friends had a lock, put his fin- automatically sent to adult lucky I got out when I did," he says. criminal court. ger through the ring, and we walloped this guy with a "fist of fury," and basically But not lucky enough, he points out, to bashed his head to a pulp," he says. The avoid getting beaten up by members of a "They were universally feared by every- injuries were so serious, the police ar- rival gang at a party, even though he said one, and I thought, this is wild and fun, rested him in Chinatown and charged him he was no longer in the gang, and was and I started hanging out with these with attempted murder. Not only was the dressing like "a preppy, college person," kids," Wu says. charge serious, but this time Wu was ar- trying to blend in. rested and held by Chinatown policea When he returned home with some low precinct that had a reputation for being He never looked back after that. Wu grades, his mother promptly kicked him particularly brutal with the young Chi- moved back in with his mother, got a job out of her house, and he gradually drop- nese gangs. as a teller at Chemical Bank, and began ped out of school, and gravitated towards the process of catching up in school. He the gangster life. took his GED, and got accepted to Queens "It is hard to have a general rule College, and eventually made up his lost Lawrence Wu chose to join one of the years. "I was excited about college, and I city's many Asian gangs, and became a of culpability when there are so studied hard, but I had a small English foot soldier for an international triad that many individual circumstances." vocabulary, and I had to learn how to ran gambling, prostitution, and enforce- write again," he says. "I was reading ment syndicates from New York to Hong words like 'polemic,' and I had to look up Kong. Killing missions, like the failed run, Before they took him to the station, Wu what they meant." were rare events. One other time, he says the police beat him and his friend in waited in a movie theater to execute somethe back of their car. "They know where to As he transferred to more prestigious rival gang members, but they never hit people without making marks: the neck, schools, first to New York University, and showed up. Instead, Wu earned $80 a the solar plexus, and they hit you with then to the State University of New York week from his Dai Lo ("big brother") to their elbows, so they don't get marks," he at Binghamton, he wrestled with his new- watch his territory, shake down store says. "They knew they couldn't shut us found faith as a Christian. For a time, he owners, deliver his packages ("I suspect down, so this was their way of finding thought of becoming a missionary, and they were drugs and guns, but I didn't equilibrium, and menacing us." He was became a youth leader in a Chinatown ask"), and be available for fighting. held in a dingy, dark adult jail cell for two church and at his college. days with the other kids, and tells of one of During his time as a Christian, he began Most of the time, Wu said, the gang the officers who handed him a cheese gambled and partied, "wasted time, and to think about the damage and pain he sandwich after rubbing it against the caused his family, particularly his mother. looked for trouble." Eventually, trouble railing of the cell. found him. His first contact with court "I noticed how much she seemed to have came when he was the sole gang member aged over the nearly two years I was

^,,,77...11,11r 11,1,111:7= 26 27 gone," Wu says. "It saddened me to think ishment for the sake of punishment, and one-quarter of 1 percent of all juveniles how the whole experience exacted a tre- there are other ways to exact punishment ages 10-17 were arrested for a violent mendous toll on my mother." His mother that are more socially useful." crime in 1998 (Snyder, 1999). Only 6 per- invited him back in, no questions asked, cent of all youth arrested are charged helping him make the transition from "I hate and despise when people just say with committing a serious violent crime gang life, to school. In university, Wu's things, without giving the matter serious (Sickmund and Snyder, 1995), and both studies centered on rationalistic philoso- thought," he says. "People have different total juvenile crime and juvenile homi- phy and biblical criticism. He found it in- circumstances that require some degree cides have dropped 56 percent since 1993 creasingly difficult to intellectually justify of individuation, and that it is terribly dif- (Federal Bureau of Investigation, 1994 and his faith. ficult to have a general rule, especially 1999). Yet the evening news repeatedly when it comes to exacting criminal portrays children and teenagers as vio- punishment." lent, and two-thirds of Americans believe 46 ased on my experiences, II can that youth crime is rising. say that a system of second Afterword A tragedy is not a trend. In the public chances is necessary." Ironically, at its centennial, the juvenile mind, however, the isolated can become court has never been more scrutinized the common. The result of media hyper- and challenged from all sides. The 1999 bole is a juvenile court that is badly misun- Eventually, Wu says he found it impossibleannual report of the Coalition for Juvenile derstood by the very Nation that founded to maintain both his intellectual convic- Justice is entitled A Celebration or a it. One consequence of this misunder- tions and his traditional faith, and he "un- Wake? The Juvenile Court After 100 Years. standing is public ambivalence, and at converted." Shortly after Wu's unconver- That title reflects current policy trends times outright hostility, toward a separate sion, he reunited with his high school and public perceptions. system of justice for juveniles. Yet the pub- sweetheart whom he dated when he was a lic repeatedly indicates that it does not gangster. He chose Columbia Law School Between 1992 and 1995 alone, 41 States want society to give up on any child, even over Harvard because he was certain they amended their juvenile justice laws to the child who commits a violent offense. were going to get married and he wanted make it easier to try juveniles in criminal to stay close to her in New York. His deci- court, and just as many loosened confi- As the juvenile court enters its second sion paid off, as they got married before dentiality protections (Sickmund, Snyder, century, there is concern that much of the his second year of law school. and Poe-Yamagata, 1997). Last year, founders' unique vision of children-as- nearly 18,000 youth spent time in adult hope is in jeopardy. The Second Chance Lawrence Wu put in 40 to 100 hours a prisons (American Correctional Associa- success stories are told to rekindle the week as editor-in-chief of the Columbia tion, 1997), 3,500 in general population same spirit that ignited the efforts of Jane University Law Reviewone of the great- with adults (Sickmund, Snyder, and Poe- Addams, Lucy Flower, and Julia Lathrop est honors a student can receive in the Yamagata, 1997). Another 7,000 to 8,000 to make the world a better and more hu- school. He oversaw every step of the pro- youth are jailed with adults on any given mane place for children and to secure a duction of one of the nation's most presti- day; many times that number are con- more promising future for all. These sto- gious law journals. "I tried to see that fined in America's jails during the course ries of hope, of perseverance, of young every single piece was substantively of a year (Sickmund, Snyder, and Poe- people thriving and ultimately living pro- better," he says. Yamagata, 1997). ductive lives despite heavy oddssome- times with help, sometimes on their When asked what he thinks of the recent Although the data collection and statisti- ownoffer a challenge: society must af- spate of tough-on-crime juvenile justice cal sampling techniques that are preva- ford today's young Bob Beamons and legislationlaws that would have made lent today were not available in 1899, the Sally Hendersons the second chances his own reclamation more difficultWu founders of the juvenile court seem to to become tomorrow's leaders. soberly deliberates over the competing have been prescient about the effects of legal values. "I know a lot of people from policies that move more youth into the the gang that I would want to see locked criminal justice system. The majority of eferences up," he says. "They really are irredeem- children who are referred to juvenile American Correctional Association. 1997. able. But it is hard to have a general rule court once never are referred again. Re- of culpability when there are so many in- 1997 Directory: Juvenile & Adult Correc- search provides evidence that youth tional Departments, Agencies & Paroling dividual circumstances. It's hard to say transferred or waived to adult criminal where the line should be drawn." He says Authorities. Lanham, MD: American Cor- court are rearrested more frequently and rectional Association. he is hesitant to say anything on public for more serious offenses than youth who policy unless he has enough information, remain in the juvenile justice system. Elliott, D.S., et al. 1983. The Prevalence and dislikes the common tendency to Youth jailed with adults are five times and Incidence of Delinquent Behavior, make rash judgments. But it doesn't take more likely to be sexually assaulted and 1976-1980. Boulder, CO: Behavioral Re- much consideration for him to reject re- eight times more likely to commit suicide search Institute. cent Congressional plans to make juvenile while in confinement than youth detained records available to universities. in juvenile facilities. Federal Bureau of Investigation. 1994. Crime in the United States 1993. Washing- "It won't have a deterrent effect," Wu Often, when the public hears news about ton, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. says. "If I'm a 14-year old kid, do I actually the juvenile court, it is following a violent care that my record won't be expunged act committed by a youth. Only about before college? The only thing it is pun-

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o? KW 11E3'11680 Federal Bureau of Investigation. 1999. Crime in the United States 1998.Washing- Acknowledgments ton,DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. Second Chances isa joint project of the Justice Policy Institute (JPI) and the Sickmund, M., and Snyder, H.N. 1995. Ju- Children and Family Justice Center (CFJC). JPI, a project of the Center on venile Offenders and Victims: A Focus on Juvenile and Criminal Justice (CJCJ), is a policy development and research body Violence. Washington, DC: U.S. Depart- that promotes effective and sensible approaches to America's justice system. ment of Justice, Office of Justice Pro- CFJC is a holistic children's law center that provides legal representation to grams, Office of Juvenile Justice and De- children, youth. and families and research. policy development, advocacy, training, linquency Prevention. and community organizing around issues affecting children. adolescents, and families. Sickmund, M., Snyder, H.N., and Poe- Yamagata, E. 1997. Juvenile Offenders and The research and writing that went into the production of theSecond Chances Victims: 1997 Update on Violence. Wash- book were funded by grants from The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur ington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Foundation and The Annie E. Casey Foundation. The profiles in this Bulletin are Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juve- reprinted from theSecond Chancesbook with the permission of the JPI, on behalf nile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. of the Children's Court Centennial Communications Project (CCCC). For copies of theSecond Chancesbook, please see the CJCJ Web site at www.cjcj.org or write Snyder, H.N. 1999. Juvenile Arrests 1998. to CJCJ, c/oSecond Chances,1622 Folsom Street, San Francisco, CA 94103. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office The authors ofSecond Chanceswould like to thank the following photographers of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency for their work: Lori Eanes and Beverly Rezneck for the photos of Terence Hallinan Prevention. and The Honorable Reggie B. Walton, respectively. The authors would also like to thank the families, friends, and participants ofSecond Chancesfor providing the photographs needed to make this project complete. This Bulletin was prepared by the Juvenile Court Centennial Initiative under grant number 1999JFFX1002 from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, U.S. The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delin- Department of Justice. quency Prevention is a component of the Of- fice of Justice Programs, which also includes Points of view or opinions expressed in this the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the Bureau document are those of the authors and do not of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of necessarily represent the official position or Justice, and the Office for Victims of Crime. policies of OJJDP or the U.S. Department of Justice.

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