Guess some of you would have read the article in yesterday's ST: '24 strokes: Unusual but not surprising', about this 16-year-old boy who was sentenced to 5 years' jail and 24 strokes of the cane for armed (knife) robbery.
The boy has a litany of crimes to his name and has been running afoul of the law since he was 10 or so. According to the article, he was deemed 'unsuitable for reformative training' (i.e. sentenced to RTC, which his partners in crime were) and the judge had 'no choice but to give him at least the minimum sentence' (5 years + 12 strokes).
How was it concluded that he was 'unsuitable' for RTC. A report by the prison psychiatrist said he was '"intellectually dull" and therefore unlikely to be able to follow the programme'. Why? Is the programme so complicated? Can't it be modified to cater to people of different intellectual abilities? Interestingly, the psychiatrist said the boy 'was capable of distinguishing right from wrong'. So why won't he be able to 'follow the programme'? I don't understand.
Moreover, if he is indeed 'intellectually dull' and unable to 'follow the programme', how would jail and caning help? It's just the punishment, right? What about the rehabilitation? Just based on what was reported about his life story, the boy has so many problems that need to be dealt with. How are these going to be solved?
The saddest part was:
'When he was sentenced... (he) stared defiantly at the judge and smirked at his mother as he was led out of the courtroom. He had a swagger despite being handcuffed.'
Aiyoh... so heartbreaking... and his poor mum...
Some might think he deserves the punishment with this kind of 'attitude'. However, I think his behaviour is the result of all those unresolved problems and nothing seems to have helped so far...
Some years ago, I had the privilege of sitting in the juvenile court (it's not open to public). I tell you, when the mothers cried, I also did, man. It was just so sad. And you know what, I came away with the awful conclusion that you will never know how your child will turn out. There were parents who appeared to care, those who appeared not to care so much, those who seemed to have done all they could for their child, those who didn't do enough. Yet, their children all ended up on the wrong side of the law at such a young age. I still think of those boys (think there was only one girl in court that day) sometimes, and that awful conclusion still haunts me...
The boy has a litany of crimes to his name and has been running afoul of the law since he was 10 or so. According to the article, he was deemed 'unsuitable for reformative training' (i.e. sentenced to RTC, which his partners in crime were) and the judge had 'no choice but to give him at least the minimum sentence' (5 years + 12 strokes).
How was it concluded that he was 'unsuitable' for RTC. A report by the prison psychiatrist said he was '"intellectually dull" and therefore unlikely to be able to follow the programme'. Why? Is the programme so complicated? Can't it be modified to cater to people of different intellectual abilities? Interestingly, the psychiatrist said the boy 'was capable of distinguishing right from wrong'. So why won't he be able to 'follow the programme'? I don't understand.
Moreover, if he is indeed 'intellectually dull' and unable to 'follow the programme', how would jail and caning help? It's just the punishment, right? What about the rehabilitation? Just based on what was reported about his life story, the boy has so many problems that need to be dealt with. How are these going to be solved?
The saddest part was:
'When he was sentenced... (he) stared defiantly at the judge and smirked at his mother as he was led out of the courtroom. He had a swagger despite being handcuffed.'
Aiyoh... so heartbreaking... and his poor mum...
Some might think he deserves the punishment with this kind of 'attitude'. However, I think his behaviour is the result of all those unresolved problems and nothing seems to have helped so far...
Some years ago, I had the privilege of sitting in the juvenile court (it's not open to public). I tell you, when the mothers cried, I also did, man. It was just so sad. And you know what, I came away with the awful conclusion that you will never know how your child will turn out. There were parents who appeared to care, those who appeared not to care so much, those who seemed to have done all they could for their child, those who didn't do enough. Yet, their children all ended up on the wrong side of the law at such a young age. I still think of those boys (think there was only one girl in court that day) sometimes, and that awful conclusion still haunts me...
Comments
As some of us have discussed here, our kids are living in dangerous times, so many temptations and so easy to go astray. Parents really have to be extra vigilant.