But neither will I pretend that this is not a matter of great urgency. Every day, while we sit here trying to figure out what OUR next step should be, some new child takes his or her first step down the wrong road, or is somehow pushed by circumstances into doing so. Instead, they might work together to find the best way to help the child involved to prevent further penetration into the system. As another example, judges have wide discretion in terms of sentencing, but incarceration is not the only option and in fact may in the long run be detrimental not only to the child but to society at large. Other possibilities might be treatment for mental or emotional disorders or substance abuse, ordering family members or social service agencies to become actively involved in a child's rehabilitation, and then providing adequate monitoring to see that the order is carried out.
Law enforcement can contribute more than just arresting juvenile defenders.
And I say that's not acceptable. And I say that's not acceptable. We can do better than that. When I try to think of how to explain this challenge in a way that will stick, I remember that Greek warriors locked their shields to form a strong line of defense against an advancing enemy. As long as they fought separately, some of the enemy always got through.