|
There are stages to development that are often used in assessing a child.
Child criminals usually come in at a very low level, in that they have little or no empathy, little or no control of their emotions, no understanding of societal norms etc. These are rarely a birth defect. They are due to poor parenting skills and the chaotic adult lives they are exposed to.
I'm not being a bleeding heart, but for this child to perpetrate this crime, there would have been abuse in his background. Neglect, emotional abuse and/ or sexual abuse. I honestly believe that people are not born evil (despite my Catholic upbringing) but that parenting can filter a personality towards bad behaviour.
Which us not to say I condone his revolting actions. But I fear that in two years, the child will have had no counselling or rehabilitation, only collaboration with older and more dangerous criminals and will return to the street an even greater danger.
|