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Parents Get Probation for Truant Kids
By Jessica Taloney Reporter
Published: Fri, July 18, 2008 - 6:00 pm
Jessica Taloney
Earlier this year, neighbors in one Theodore subdivision were rattled to the core when a very violent crime stunned their neighborhood, and the suspect was just a kid!
Investigators say a 14 year old burglarized a home on Westfield Road when no one was there, stealing jewelery, electronics and a 38-revolver... But, that's just were this crime begins. Two days later, deputies say the same teen returned for more, and this time he was confronted by the owner, Richard Land, 60. Land was shot and killed with his own gun in broad daylight.
"This was an everyday Mr. and Mrs. Living in a neighborhood," says Mobile County Sheriff Sam Cochran. "No drugs, nothing involved. Apparently, he was randomly picked out by the assailant," said Cochran.
Sheriff Cochran says Land's murder is one piece in a disturbing puzzle... A sharp increase in the number of Mobile County teens charged with violent crimes.
Myles Montgomery, who is now 15, is one of 27 minors locked up in Mobile's Metro jail, but this time last year you would have found only 12 teens there, and in 2006 you would have found only three.
"The solution has to be earlier intervention when these kids are doing minor crimes," says Cochran. "Once someone commits a murder or rape or shoots another individual, it's too late to treat them like a juvenile."
Mobile County Juvenile Court Judge Edmond Namon agrees. "We're fighting a war for the hearts and souls and minds of our children," says Namon.
Namon hopes cracking down on truancy, something he insists he's committed to doing, will help with the problem. Naman says he is holding kids and their parents accountable for skipping school.... It's a small offense that could be a sign of a bigger problem.
"The best part about that is really we're able to find at risk kids and not only the child that is in trouble in school but also his siblings," says Namon. "We're able to enter that family really early, find out what the problem is and start trying to make a difference in their lives."
If you want to help at-risk juveniles you can join a Community Action Group in your community. The first meeting is being held in Chickasaw on Thursday, July 24th at 6:30. Other meetings will be held throughout Mobile County over the next few months, but the dates for those meetings are not yet set. For more information contact Judge Naman's office at 251-574-8470.
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Carl, I agree with you 100%. It all goes back to one word----PARENTING---- My mother, grandparents, aunts and uncles all had thier eyes on all of us kids growing up and when we stepped out of line, well let’s just say all of them had mom’s permission to whip our behinds, and we would get back on track quickly. we grew up completly different than todays kids, we had respect, manners, hard work ethics, and parents (all the family) to guide us and turn us into better people. Todays kids need to learn some of the above things and start having pride in thier selves and the work they do, If not I have belt and will travel, so anyone that needs help let me know.