crazyheart
vandals- under 12
Posted on: 09/02/2010 12:10
This window at the camp was among 30 that were smashed. (David Shield/CBC)Prince Albert RCMP say a camp for children with learning disabilities was extensively vandalized by a group of youngsters, all under the age of 12.
The RCMP were called on Tuesday afternoon about vandalism at Camp Tamarack, about 24 kilometres northwest of the city.
There were 30 broken windows, damaged doors, fences, playground equipment as well as damage to a motor home that was part of the camp, the RCMP said.
The damage is estimated to be worth at least $25,000.
Police said Wednesday that eight youngsters, all under the age of 12, were responsible. Because of their ages, police said they would not be laying any charges.
According to police, some of the youth — including an eight-year-old — drove a camp bus around the camp area and damaged the bus after crashing it into trees, the RCMP said. The bus was left abandoned in the mud.
The children then went on to break into various buildings at the camp.
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Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/saskatchewan/story/2010/09/01/sk-vandalism-camp-1008.html#ixzz0yOFW56kz
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crazyheart
Posted on: 09/02/2010 12:12
They are under the age of being charged, so what should the First Nation's Community do.? Should the parents pay? Should the community clean up and pay? Should the kids be confined to school and home? What do you think?
Rowan
Posted on: 09/04/2010 09:55
I think that even though the kids are too young to be charged they should be made to preform some kind of restituion. Also the kids probably ought to receive counselling, kids that would do this kind of thing probably have other issues, maybe a poor home life.
seeler
Posted on: 09/04/2010 12:18
It seems that there are a lot of issues here. If I were involved, I would like to know if this was an isolated incident or is it part of a pattern of this group of children wandering around unsupervised, angry, and destroying property. What is their home life like?
No, the children shouldn't get off 'scott free'. They need to be made aware of their actions and how they harm others. They need to be involved in the clean-up and repair. So should their parents. But financially - unless they are from well off families, I don't see how these children or their parents could pay for more than a very small percentage of the costs. Perhaps the reason why they were angry and unsupervised is that they are already living at the edge of poverty and deprivation. They may have had nothing to do, no toys or sports, or organized summer activities. Perhaps one or both parents are absent tor one reason or another. Perhaps the other parent is unable, do to poor health, other children to care for, or depression to supervise their kids. Perhaps this incident is actually a 'cry for help' by a group of kids who are as bad off, or worse, than the kids who benefit from this camp.
I would need to know a lot more before I could even think of offering a solution. One thing for sure - locking them up in a juvinile jail or giving them a criminal record is not going to help.
somegalfromcan
Posted on: 09/04/2010 12:53
I think restitution is the way to go. I would also like to see them receive whatever help they may need - be it counselling or something else. For restitution I would have them help fix the damage they have caused and would also have them spend some time volunteering at the camp so that they could get to know the people who's lives they've affected.