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Labelling of errant youngsters as ‘criminals’ and ‘burglars’ worsens their predicament

Apr 15, 2009 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,
I really am not given to writing letters to the press, but I feel compelled to do so in this instance, as this matter seems to have escaped the notice of your regular correspondents, and moreso, your activist columnists.
The incident to which I refer was reported in the March 28, 2009 issue of your newspaper, under the headline, ’12-year-old burglar jumps into pond to escape police bullets’.
I was truly surprised to see a 12-year-old being described as a ‘burglar’. But of far greater worry was that the police allegedly fired at unarmed persons who were fleeing, and then were ‘shocked when they discovered that one of them was only twelve years old’.
Since then I was hoping to see a follow-up report of this matter when it came before the Court so as to read the remarks by the learned Magistrate regarding the alleged action of the Police.
Also I firmly believe that the labelling of errant youngsters as ‘criminals’ and ‘burglars’ does little to help them out of their predicament, and only serves to harden the attitude of the public towards efforts at their rehabilitation. Worse, it contributes to an atmosphere in which the Police feel less accountable for their actions.
I can only hope that the Guyana Police Force’s Office of Professional Responsibility has not treated this matter in the seemingly casual manner in which your newspaper has.
Michael Parris
Former Probation & Welfare Officer

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