Thank God someone with the power to publish articles that can be viewed in the light of truth, has spoken out on this issue of our "Lost Children!" For far too many years, the "Powers That Be" have used these unfortunate children to further their political careers under the guise of "Getting Tough On Crime," with their lock'em up attitudes. And placing the blame for recidivism on the easy going, bleeding heart liberals, that espouse decent treatment, mentoring, education, etc.

It seems that these "Get Tough" persons have never given any thought to the fact that all children are the same, when it comes to the need for nurturing and teaching the rules of society. Just because a child is born into poverty, abuse, negligence, does not discount the need for proper care and teaching. Study after study, research, conferences, meetings, all speak to the same needs, but never get beyond the talking stage, because the people that have the means and authority are fearful of being labeled as lax on crime.

Since when has one's perceived standing on an issue, causes that person to deny the truthful solution to the problem?? I always thought that a leader did just that, LEAD!! Instead of trying to insure their position as the leader by acquiesing to the hue and cry of the political groups and hard-eyed accusers.

Are there any persons of authority, with the moral indignation to make a real, and lasting difference in these young people's lives, and the future of this country?? If there are not, then why not use the talent we have, talent that is hidden among the mountains of paperwork, bureacracy, and make-work agendas. People that have been marginalized due to their views of fixing what they perceive is wrong, and useless, in other words, swimming against the stream of incompetence that is the norm for most of these agencies.

We know that this is how we solve the problems of our society, we do research, appoint a comission, which in turn, begets an agency, which in turn, fights to remain an agency, at the expense of success. This is the way of most "Social Service Agencies." Spend ALL of the allocated funds for this fiscal year, and ask for at least a 15% increase for the upcoming year, not how many real-life problems have we solved this year. Nor even comparing the effectiveness of what we have done for the past year or so.

Maybe it is time for a revolution to take place in the world of social services, print these articles everywhere, have a media blitz. If we as a nation can spend mega-fortunes to elect, re-elect people to office that are liars at best, and despots at their worst, how much is saving our future citizens worth???

Progressives here in Texas love Judge William Wayne Justice. Was there ever a better name for a judge? And he does it proud.

I agree with the author that giving child offenders opportunities to turn themselves into happy, well-adjusted, productive members of society is a no-brainer. Everyone deserves a chance, and it's better for everyone in the long run.

But that avoids the root of the problem. How did our country end up with so many young offenders? What are the conditions that give rise to criminality? How do we avoid them?

These questions are much more pressing. We need to take care of those convicted of crimes, yes, but how much better would it be if we had no cause to incarcerate children at all?

While I wouldn't say they don't need punishment or that they don't receive it at Giddings, Ayelet Waldman's column on juvenile offenders was otherwise right on. We know what works in juvenile justice...it is just a matter of getting it out there.

-Mariah Boone

Lone Star Ma Magazine

If you liked this essay by Waldman, read True Notebooks: A Writer's Year at Juvenille Hall by Mark Salzman. It's a compelling book and a real eye-opener about the juvenille detention system in California. Salzman is a novelist who spent a year teaching writing to high risk offenders in LA County's Central Juvenille Hall. The book includes both his reflections on the experience and writing by the boys he taught.