Current Kids At Risk News | INVISIBLE CHILDREN

Mar22013

Supporting America’s Economy With Bigger Prisons & Longer Sentencing (thank you Jonathan Swift)

All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, Juvenile + Criminal JusticeBy Mike Tikkanen March 2, 2013

he stun gunning, choking, obscene language, and over the top violence by police to kids at the Illinois emergency youth center shows just how deplorable America’s policies for At Risk Children are.
Well meaning, often under trained and under resourced youth center staff call on police to help with uncontrollable youth. Under trained police respond with a level of violence appropriate during a prison riot. Note (below) Sheriff Mulch’s attitude towards dealing with children at the youth center. Perhaps he shouldn’t.
– See more at: https://invisiblechildren.org/category/crime-and-courts/#sthash.lLOoRebb.dpuf

Details

Feb142013

Bigger Armies & More Wars – Why Americans Hate Children

All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, Juvenile + Criminal JusticeBy Mike Tikkanen February 14, 2013

Just yesterday a tea party fellow I know (RW) was telling me about the wisdom in former MN Governor Tim Pawlenty’s words, “children that are victims of failed personal responsibility are not my problem, nor are they the problem of the state of Minnesota”. Solid Christians both of them, so they must be right. Although I’m still having trouble finding the religion that abandons children.

Details

Nov302012

Promoting Prisons As Public Policy

All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, Juvenile + Criminal JusticeBy Mike Tikkanen November 30, 2012

I recently toured Richard Ross Juvenile In Justice museum display in Reno NV. Heart rending photos of ten and twelve year old children in America’s justice system. So powerfully does his photographers eye catch the meaning of former MN Supreme Court Chief Justice Kathleen Blatz statement that “The difference between that poor child & a felon is about 8 years”.

Chief Justice Blatz other quote hangs with me also, “90 % of the youth in juvenile justice have come through child protection services”, reminds me of just how much trauma has been suffered by abused and neglected children & how by not helping them we pretty much guarantee a pipeline to prison for them and the dangerous streets & failing schools that they leave along the way.

Details

Jun272012

Court Rules American Children Will No Longer Be Incarcerated For Life (& we recently quit executing juveniles)

All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, Juvenile + Criminal JusticeBy Mike Tikkanen June 27, 2012

Some states still charge 11 year old children as adults in this nation (25% of youth are charged as adults in America).

MN Supreme Courts former Chief Justice Kathleen Blatz is remembered for her statements about how abused and neglected children correlate to crime & prison.

“The difference between that poor child and a felon is about 8 years” &

“90% of the youth in juvenile justice have passed through child protection” are 2 powerful Justice Blatz statements that should cause us to reflect on how we treat the youngest and most vulnerable among us.

Details

Nov32011

California Police Hate Kids T Shirt Campaign; You Raise Em, We Cage Em

All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, Juvenile + Criminal JusticeBy Mike Tikkanen November 3, 2011

I’ve written on the police tasering ten and twelve year olds, the growing movement to try very young children as adults, and the chronic over representation of African Americans in jails & prisons everywhere.

In my experience as a guardian ad-Litem, all children want to be “normal” and lead nice lives, but too many of them are born into toxic homes and their communities are quick to punish and incarcerate instead of nurture & enhance their lives.

How can America’s youth ever hope to lead normal lives when so many of them have serious criminal records & drug problems (legal and illegal) by the time they are eighteen?

Details

Oct22011

Save Cristian Fernanedez 12 Years Old Sign the MoveOn Petition

All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, Juvenile + Criminal JusticeBy Mike Tikkanen October 2, 2011

Cristian hasn’t had an easy life. He’s the same age now as his mother was when he was born. He’s a survivor of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. In 2010, Cristian watched his stepfather commit suicide to avoid being charged with abusing Cristian.

Details

Mar112011

He Would Wander The Streets With His Dog Looking For His Mother When He Was A Boy; Abandoned As An Infant – Executed at 37

All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, Juvenile + Criminal JusticeBy Mike Tikkanen March 11, 2011

12 years in child protection has changed the way I look at grown up abandoned children.

There is not a religion on the planet that would abandon children a second time.

Details

Feb112011

The Crime Of Prosecuting 10 Year Olds As Adults

All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, Juvenile + Criminal JusticeBy Mike Tikkanen February 11, 2011

While this may sound harsh, I see the wisdom in Jonathon Swifts Modest proposal;the children he speaks of lead such miserable lives, that killing them early would be reduce their suffering.

Details

Nov182010

75% Of Inmates Are Illiterate (19% are completely illiterate) Ruben Rosario

All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, Juvenile + Criminal JusticeBy Mike Tikkanen November 18, 2010

85 percent of all juveniles who come into contact with the juvenile court system are functionally illiterate. So are 60 percent of all prison inmates. Inmates have a 16 percent chance of returning to prison if they receive literacy help, as opposed to 70 percent for those who receive no help

Details

Oct122010

Raised By The Courts, A Judge’s Insight Into Juvenile Justice

All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, Juvenile + Criminal JusticeBy Mike Tikkanen October 12, 2010

“I’m sorry, Javaris,” I said after sentencing. “I can’t excuse your crimes, but somehow I think that we failed you too. Your family failed you, the system failed you.”

Details