It’s no way to treat kids!

Michigan’s deadliest school shooting in history is still in the headlines, and it’s forcing us to do some serious thinking. 

Ethan Crumbley, now 17 years of age, is serving life in prison for killing four classmates at Oxford High School in November, 2021. 

The news that made headlines in recent days was that Jennifer Crumbley, 45, is now the first US parent convicted of manslaughter over a mass shooting carried out by their child. Prosecutors accused her of being negligent in allowing her son to have a gun, and ignoring warnings signs. 

I don’t have any problem with the way our justice system is treating Mrs. Crumbley. I have a problem with the way we’re treating her son. 

While Michigan legislators consider bills that would ban life sentences without the possibility of parole for children, we continue to support such a sentence when the crime is something that really makes us angry. Like the Oxford tragedy. Ethan Crumbley was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole for killing four of his classmates and wounding others in the 2021 Michigan school shooting. 

Here's the deal. Brilliant minds in the field of psychiatry insist that no child is incorrigible, no matter what some cops and prosecutors insist. No matter how much we sympathize and empathize with the victims of heinous crimes. I invite you to check out the research for yourself…it’s readily available. In some cases, the amount of violence these kids have seen in their neighborhoods and right in their own homes is shocking. Many have never even had the opportunity to be a “normal” child! I’m hoping that, here in Michigan, the day will come when we can give them that second chance. 

Not only does America have a history of participating in this barbaric practice for juveniles, but as a couple of writers in the Detroit News pointed out the other day, there are serious racial overtones. For example, in our country today, 61% of these kids serving life sentences without parole are Black. And right here in Pure Michigan, 70% are Black! 

Come on! 

I’m pleased to report that the Michigan Legislature is considering bills to ban this practice, and I urge your support for SB 119-23 and HB 4160-64. These bills do not rank high on the popularity list, so those of us who care must keep pushing. 

I pray that our state’s position may soften, not only on this sad practice, but also on the practice of referring young offenders to our adult courts. We have juvenile courts for a reason.

So, my advice for today: Contact your lawmakers. Then, give your kids and your grandkids an extra hug! 

I conclude with these words from Boys Town: 

Today, more than ever, in our polarized, too-quick-to-condemn culture, we must ensure there is always room for compassion for children. The stories of children hurting others are heart-wrenching. But society must keep moving toward effective solutions that focus on treating kids like kids. As legislators and decision-makers struggle with the issue of children accused of serious crimes, they must follow the science and neuroscience research and choose redemption and rehabilitation.

Given the right care, treatment and support, no child is beyond hope.




Comments

MaryMargaret said…
Oh WOW my friend. These are words needed to be put out into the universe. Thank you for this blog. It is disheartening to see what is happening in our communities. If we spent as much time, effort and money on solving the root causes of this epidemic as we spend on what amounts to retaliation we could make a much bigger impact on making our streets, homes, businesses, places of worship and schools safe places. Keep up the good work getting the truth of what is happening in our unjust justice system out into the public forum. Shalom
February 10, 2024 at 11:13 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Half-a-race!

The HFP Drag-Racing Fund-Raiser had the potential of being extremely successful, and could have raised several thousand dollars. Let's just say it was partly successful. For background purposes I'll explain that I was racing a 1963 supercharged Studebaker Lark that has a reputation of being one of the fastest stock Studebakers in drag racing today. The engine was built by one of the finest Studebaker engine mechanics in the country, and the car many times has achieved quarter-mile runs in less than 14 seconds! We promised to make at least ten passes in the Pure Stock Muscle Car Drags at Mid-Michigan Motorplex in Stanton, Michigan, this past weekend, and we asked for pledges ONLY ON THOSE RUNS REACHED IN LESS THAN 14 SECONDS. On Friday, here's how we fared: Run #1 13.936 @ 101.24 mph Run #2 14.027 @ 101.30 mph Run #3 14.091 @ 100.88 mph Run #4 13.805 @ 102.84 mph Run #5 14.058 @ 101.26 mph By the 5th run we discovered that
Read more

Gregory John McCormick: 1964-2008

Itchy is dead. The lifeless body of this talented rock musician, whose band Shock Therapy was a popular group especially in Europe, was found in a field in Detroit last Wednesday, November 5. The Wayne County Coroner's office informed father Glenn McCormick that the body of his son Gregory, better known to all of us as Itchy, bore no signs of trauma. Glenn said that Itchy, who had been living at his father's dental lab in Detroit, had been drinking to excess for some time. While the toxicology report has not been released yet, the general consensus seems to be that he drank himself to death. Our agency, while still named INNOCENT, first got involved with Itchy in 2005. The Detroit native, who called Germany his home, got involved in some unfortunate activity that placed him in the Michigan State prison system on a charge of arson of a dwelling. It was really just a bonfire in an alley, but an alleged parole violation placed him in prison for 1-20 years. I personally sat w
Read more

Three lives, connected by a divine thread

My kids say it should be a book! The Doug, Pat and Mark story is a doozie!   About 25 years ago, while fighting to free Maurice Carter from prison, I read a newspaper column written by Pat Shellenbarger of the Grand Rapids Press on the topic of eyewitness identification. I contacted Pat re that story. That led to a friendship between Doug and Pat that continues to this day.   In subsequent months, Pat would go on to assist me in an investigation into the Maurice Carter case that eventually led to solving the crime.  That particular episode became a chapter in my book about the Carter case, SWEET FREEDOM, published in 2006.   Fast forward to 2009, A New York businessman claims wrongful conviction, and while serving time in a Michigan prison is handed a copy of my book. Mark Hartman, who was also convicted in Berrien County, was amazed at the similarity of these two stories and tried to reach out to me. His letters bounced.   Persisting in his efforts to contact the author, Mark
Read more