tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15766662.post9057728188469626523..comments2023-05-28T07:59:23.224-07:00Comments on across the gypsy flat road: in which i struggle with justice.Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16175187905212028267noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15766662.post-89994300469866526582009-09-21T06:32:22.048-07:002009-09-21T06:32:22.048-07:00I think this generation of kids is lacking in cons...I think this generation of kids is lacking in consequences and rolling in a sense of entitlement. What she did was wrong and there should be a punishment. She is not entitled to have the wagon because she may be poor, etc. I would have pressed charges. But, I would also like to know what her family situation is that she has to steal a wagon for grocery hauling and depending on what I found out I would probably go buy them their own wagon and fill it with groceries.Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15701249348205626980noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15766662.post-43187970082241239162009-09-19T14:09:59.570-07:002009-09-19T14:09:59.570-07:00What a delimma. I probably would have given her t...What a delimma. I probably would have given her the wagon, but I can't say for sure, having not been there. And I agree, this way she sees there is a consequence to an action. I dunno though. Consequence vs Kindness. A long-going battle for us.Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07630459404574301299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15766662.post-49751957590890173792009-09-18T19:50:48.769-07:002009-09-18T19:50:48.769-07:00It is a hard choice, but I think you made the righ...It is a hard choice, but I think you made the right one. I think part of the reason the juvenile crime is on the rise is because we are too lenient until it is something out of control. <br />SteffAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15766662.post-89736659363125283202009-09-18T18:28:25.314-07:002009-09-18T18:28:25.314-07:00I agree that you did the right thing to press char...I agree that you did the right thing to press charges. I know it must be hard and in the end it is just a wagon.. but in the end it is the issue of right and wrong and it is better for her to learn at 15 over a wagon than maybe over 18 over a car, or an in store item, or money in a bank. Put your place in her mother's shoes and consider how she may be thankful that this child was caught and dealt with now as opposed to someones later with less mercy who may have taken the law into their own hands. you did the right thing.Laura Mielkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17201624805631019862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15766662.post-83757488137372304092009-09-18T17:45:30.707-07:002009-09-18T17:45:30.707-07:00You are so very compassionate. That is one of the ...You are so very compassionate. That is one of the things I love about you. As hard as it was for you to press charges you may have saved this girls life down the road.ljkgatesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15766662.post-64499101352345917892009-09-18T16:35:27.112-07:002009-09-18T16:35:27.112-07:00It's interesting to read this inner struggle y...It's interesting to read this inner struggle you went through because the very first thing we learned in criminal law was that the major difference in criminal law from everything else we learned is that there isn't a plaintiff. The government prosecutes crime, not the citizen. When someone breaks the law, it is a crime against society, not just the victim. Ultimately a government prosecutor has to choose to prosecute a case or not. A person could commit first degree murder and the victim's family can't really force the government to prosecute. It's a governmental choice (obviously they always choose to if they find the perp, but its not required). Anyway, as a practical matter, obviously for petty crimes like this, the police were passing the buck to you. But, that's not really how criminal law works in theory. <br /><br />Just my two cents. Maybe it will make you feel less guilty?<br /><br /> Sorry you had to spend your day dealing with that.maryhttp://maughry333.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15766662.post-48888616407072333472009-09-18T14:22:34.788-07:002009-09-18T14:22:34.788-07:00What a struggle! I see where you're coming fr...What a struggle! I see where you're coming from. On one hand, if she never has consequences, what does she have to lose by stealing stuff, but on the other hand, what is her situation and why is she stealing stuff in the first place?Mercy's Maidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02289821516382280204noreply@blogger.com