Prosecuting Teens
- Share via
Re “House OKs Plan to Prosecute More Teens as Adults,” May 9:
Based on my more than 20 years’ experience as a chaplain in both juvenile and adult correctional facilities, and based on the experiences of our L.A. Archdiocese staff chaplains and hundred of volunteers who help us in this ministry, I know that no child, especially at the age of 13 or 14, becomes involved in violent crime all by himself or herself. Many and often appalling failures of adults in these children’s lives, as well as failures of social and governmental policies, contribute to the problem of juvenile violent crime.
I am deeply disappointed and saddened that members of Congress voted to spend $1.5 billion to make permanent determinations that these children, like trash, have no redeemable value, and not one cent to correct the adult failures.
SISTER SUZANNE JABRO, CSJ
Director
Office of Detention Ministry
Los Angeles
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
