Stolen Boy’s Weblog

This is a follow-up piece by one of our newest, prized contributors, Cari Barichello, a mother, activist, supporter of Tyler and other troubled youth, and administrator for Justiceforjuveniles.org, who has her own thoughts and suggestions following Tyler Edmonds’ ordeal.

Please read her wonderful commentary below, and tell us your thoughts on the issues raised:

Tyler Edmonds enjoys his freedom at last.

THE AIRING OF TYLER’S TRIAL

The airing of Tyler’s trial last week (on TruTV) has me once again, emotionally exhausted. You’d think after advocating for children in the adult system for over ten years now, I’d be somewhat immune to the heartache. I’m convinced now that will never happen, and that’s okay, because with that pain comes anger and that anger ignites my determination to change our corrupt system even more.

I learned so many new things this week to add to the same old judicial woes not just from Tyler’s trial per se, but from those who watched with their own eyes, as I did. Some are realizations and some are personal insights that have been eating away at me for years.

Tyler’s mom, Sharon, told the police she did not want Tyler questioned alone, yet the deputy was ordered to remove her. I have to wonder if the jury was flabbergasted when they seen that poor woman pounding on the door to get into the same room with her son? “Wait,” they must of thought…”don’t we teach our children to not speak with authorities without a parent or attorney present? Have we got it all wrong?”

The one good thing that came out of that taped confession is that very issue. Had an attorney been present, he would never have allowed Tyler to speak one word. It proved that law enforcement can do at times what they want, when they want, even if it’s outside the lines of our laws.

MANDATORY SENTENCING

Mandatory sentencing is not a “One Size Fits All” solution. There has to be a middle ground or meeting of the minds of sortS when it comes between the fine line of juvenile and adult punishment. For the harshest of crimes, a Juvenile ends at age 18-21, Adult is “Life Without Parole,” even for first time offenders. Both the Adult and Juvenile systems need an overhaul to either extend the time period of incarceration or impose adult status and punishment after age of majority, if the child has not reached rehabilitation.

HR 4300

HR 4300 needs to pass this 2009 session to end Juvenile LWOP and to allow judges discretion when sentencing. The Grand Jury system has to become balanced by presenting the defense side, not just the State’s. This (the present) form of ease to Adult Waiver makes it effortless for the ELECTED State’s Attorney’s to warehouse our children with adult criminals. Lastly, not all children are in need of rehabilitation! Why do we decide punishment around that one main fact? Like Tyler, there was nothing mentally wrong with him, he just trusted a manipulative adult. Bad choices should not automatically deem a child in need of psychiatric help.

This chapter has ended now for Tyler who is now a legal adult, by all sense of the word. As Ms. (Robyn) Bramson so eloquently pointed out in regards to her client Brandon McInereny, “In the juvenile system he would have been referred to as Brandon. In the adult system he is referred to as Mr.McInerney.”

My last word to the state of Mississippi: “Mister” is a surname for an adult. Please call Tyler Mr. Edmonds from now on and show him the respect today he deserves that he did not get when he was a child.