UPPER MARLBORO, Md. — “Judge Dawson, he don’t play,” a parent once said about Herman C. Dawson, the main juvenile court judge in Prince George’s County. And on this Tuesday morning, Judge Dawson was definitely not in a playing mood.
“Who’s in court with you today?” he demanded of Tanika, the 16-year-old standing before him in handcuffs.
“My mom,” she said.
“I know that,” Judge Dawson snapped.
An honors student, Tanika had never been in trouble with the law before. But for the past year, ever since she was involved in a fight with another girl at her high school, Judge Dawson had ruled her life, turning it into a series of court hearings, months spent on house arrest and weeks locked up at a juvenile detention center in Laurel, Md.
Most recently, he had detained her for two weeks for violating probation by visiting a friend on the way home from working off community service hours. Now he was deciding whether to release her.
“I’m hesitating because I don’t know whether you got the message,” he said.
Juvenile court judges in the United States are given wide discretion to decide what is in a young offender’s best interest. Many, like Judge Dawson, turn to incarceration, hoping it will teach disobedient teenagers a lesson and deter them from further transgressions.
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I see no problem here...better time in juvie than to end up prison later because no one corrected them.
ReplyDeleteOver a fight? Never been in trouble before? Lots of wastes of money and resources.
ReplyDeletelove this judge...common sense approach. good heart. tough love.
ReplyDeletewhy isn't the parent parenting? let me guess trash raising trash?
ReplyDeleteShame these kids futures will be limited unless someone steps in to help them make the necessary changes to make better life decisions!
Hats off to the judge for his worked but sounds like he clearly whiffed on the case of the girl featured in the story.
ReplyDeleteGreat job Judge! Finally someone who actually rules, and doesn't let these Kids off with a slap on the wrist! Can we get him to come to Wicomico County PLEASE!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteAn honors student involved in one fight? I seem to remember getting into one fight in high school. It hurt and I got in no more. I was not caught nor punished, but I learned.
ReplyDeleteToo many already in there for having an Ibuprofen to deal with these "minor offenders"?
ReplyDeleteIdiot system...