Some Good News

[H2O Man]

I attended two weddings today. At the reception for the second one, I had an interesting talk with one of my nephews. He is currently employed in the DC area with one of the federal agencies that oversees a significant number of the programs for teens who are incarcerated in “youth facilities” across the country. His position involves the making of policies that are used in state facilities that receive some federal funding.

Quite a few of my family have been employed in various human services work. His father helped run a NYS Division for Youth facility; his older brother is currently employed in a similar facility in the upstate region; my older son previously worked at a group home for young adults; and my younger son has worked in another group home, a facility for teens convicted of serious criminal offenses, and now works in another facility for young adult convicts. My wife runs a county substance abuse clinic,: in the past, she worked in a women's prison on the west coast. And I am retired after working in human services in three counties (concentrating on domestic abuse in two, then a mental health clinic in a third).

It would be fair to say that we all share a concern for the quality of services for “at risk” youth. In my opinion, the idea that it was important and worthwhile to invest in programs to help young people went out of style in Washington, DC, when LBJ retired, and Richard Nixon took office. And I'm not a “bleeding heart” – I recognize that there are some people who are violent sociopaths, and who pose a serious threat to society. More, I know there are some offenses that require a serious consequence.

I do have some issues with the way the justice system determines who to prosecute and incarcerate That topic could be worthy of another essay here, though it is actually closely related to the issues involved in the treatment of young people in facilities across the USA. However, my focus tonight is something a little different. My nephew told me that, since Barack Obama took office in the White House, his agency is being encouraged to seek better ways to work with those teens and young adults who are incarcerated in those facilities. He talked at length about the new atmosphere, something that is completely different than when Bush was in office.

This is one of the issues that means the most to me. It's the type of thing that makes me glad that I supported Barack Obama in 2008. I don't expect to see this type of thing reported on the cable news, which is a shame. But the media rarely reports good news.

[RKP5637]

1. Thanks for posting this. The MSM could do such a service for this country and

its future success by reporting on stories like this and better news than they report, but the MSM insists in reporting tabloid journalism, half truths, outright lies and sensationalism. MSM is clearly a wasted resource in this country.

They could uplift the morale in this country, but they cling to depressing the spirit of the nation. The MSM is one huge downer.

[txlibdem]

7. Then you ask yourself: who owns the main stream media?

I could give you a hint but what fun would that be???

Look up any media company to see who owns them, includes contact info

See who controls print and electronic media in the United States. Media Owners is your guide to the leading U.S. media companies... what they own, and who owns them.

http://www.mediaowners.com/

Is this REALLY such a big problem?

The U.S. media landscape is dominated by massive corporations that, through a history of mergers and acquisitions, have concentrated their control over what we see, hear and read. In many cases, these giant companies are vertically integrated, controlling everything from initial production to final distribution. Here is information about the largest U.S. media firms.

http://www.freepress.net/ownership/chart/main

A handful of companies control most of what we see, hear and read every day. They own our TV stations, radio stations, newspapers, magazines, cable channels, movie studios, music labels -- even our favorite Internet sites.

Unchecked consolidation means that Big Media are getting even bigger, giving these firms more control over our news and information. Bottom line? Big Media are bad news -- for all of us.

http://www.stopbigmedia.com/=atstake

[Cleita]

19. You point to the larger problem of big corporations

themselves. They are allowed to merge and acquire without limits globally. We need to bring back the regulations that we once had that contained them. For instance corporations that make household appliances and electrical goods could not back in those days acquire a media company or any other company that had nothing to do with their purpose. I'm specifically referring to GE owning NBC. But that is only one example of so many. Banks could be only chartered in a state and no other. I remember back when Bank of America was the biggest in California, but only in California as they could not be chartered in any other state. There are so many other examples.

[H2O Man]

22. The media is

intent on selling a product. What they peddle is as unhealthy as a fast-food burger. I've often had the best results in making use of the smaller, "local" media outlets. I'll give an example, that happens to involve one of my nephews. "Older" forum members will remember my speaking of this years ago.

In 1998, a racist hate gang targeted one nephew, because they despised a black high school student getting positive media coverage. After a local community event, they attacked him and a friend from behind. They knocked the two high school seniors unconscious -- with either rocks or bottles -- in a dark field being used as a parking lot. The gang of 17 then severely beat both boys, focusing mostly upon my nephew. Three men -- who weighed 280, 290, and 310 pounds -- punched and kicked my nephew as he lay unconscious, with his hands still in his pockets.

They left him for dead. The physicians that treated him told us that it surprised them he had survived. He suffered injuries that kept him from taking advantage of the university scholarships he had earned, and though he still has problems today (deaf in one ear, muscle damage in his neck & shoulders), he has moved forward and is a talented social worker.

The leader of the gang, although he admitted punching and kicking my nephew more than a dozen times, ended up with a mere $50 fine -- for the open beer he had at the time. The judge had the nerve to say that this thug's calling my nephew a "dumb nigger" at the time did not convince him that there was any racial motivation involved in the assault.

We knew the local court system would not hold the white guys to the same standard that they would in a black gang assaulted a white kid. So, we decided to use the local media to educate the public. My friend Robert Kennedy, Jr., wrote to the NYS Attorney General, requesting that he prosecute the case as a hate crime. Though the republican AG ignored the request, it helped us get local media coverage. Also, two upstate NY branches of the NAACP assisted us in having literally hundreds of people attend the trials of the three gang members who were prosecuted. My friend Will, who headed one branch, helped me coordinate media coverage. Local newspapers, radio, and television stations attended the proceedings.

The largest paper, one of Gannett's, was threatened by a defense attorney, for reporting the racial aspects. The paper backed down, and refused to carry details on that part of the assault. But the other papers continued to do accurate reporting.

I contacted a fellow I knew through work, who headed the NYS Commission on Judicial Misconduct. They investigated, and concluded it was the DA who was primarily responsible for the failure to hold the thugs accountable.

A casual friend from Sports Illustrated considered doing a story on the case. The editors decided against it; he told me that the racial aspects were "too controversial."

I think that this suggests that we often get better results when we focus our efforts on the smaller media outlets.

[molly77]

30. Your post today and your family's

work to help young people and mentally ill warms my heart.

Did you get a second trial for your nephew? If I missed something, sorry...slow today.

[H2O Man]

9. I've often thought

that our media, which has the electronic potential of the printing press, is being primarily used to mass-produce low-quality comic books. As another nephew said last night, it is purpseful. When a society is purposefully depressed, made anxious and fearful, the result is always that some group is targeted to take the weight for the culture's low level of being. Our society requires several demonized groups, and that includes the youth that we sacrifice to the prison system.

[pacalo]

2. That's very heartening news.

From the bottom of my heart, I admire you & your wonderful family for giving so much to those who are in such need for compassion & direction.

[H2O Man]

10. Thank you,

very much. I loved the work that I did. I used to make much more money doing a job I didn't like at all, but I considered myself lucky to have the opportunity to work in human services. And I was always involved in cases and issues that were outside of employment. My children are proud of their "old man," for the things that I accomplished in life. That's worth a heck of a lot more than any paycheck.

[lamp_shade]

3. Thanks for telling us this. I have deep admiration for you and your family.

[H2O Man]

23. I appreciate that.

Long ago, in large part from the influence of Chief Paul Waterman and reading about Malcolm X and Gandhi, I decided that my goal was to attempt to reach the status of the "least" in society. It has been my privilege to have that opportunity.

[Swamp Rat]

4. k&r

[H2O Man]

24. Thanks, Friend!

I am surely glad that you are on this forum!

[Shanti Mama]

5. great news. Wish the corporate media would run an "interests" story.

[H2O Man]

25. Right.

I don't think that the general public has any grasp of what a huge industry the prison system is in this country. There is a lot of chances for "law & order" politicians to get on a platform and scare the heck out of people, and to de-humanize those individuals who get caught up in the legal system. The result is that the very resources that could save a significant percentage of the youngsters caught up in the machine have been purposefully invested in "growing" the system.

[oldhippydude]

28. unfortunately

as the penal system becomes more and more privatized, incarceration is big biz.. witness Jan Brewers ties, fear still sells even though crime is down!!

[mmonk]

6. The media may not but you have.

The media has its agenda which is totally different than informing the people of this country.

[H2O Man]

26. Right you are.

One of the guys who has addressed this is "Big" George Foreman. He was a product of Job Corps. He turned his life around. But, as he has said, if he had come of age under the Reagan administration, he would have ended up a flint-hard convict in a state prison, rather than a productive and contributing member of society. George has noted that the media has worked to change the public perception of younf folk in trouble.

[spanone]

8. k&r.

[Me.]

11. Nor Just Good News, Full Of Hope News

+1

[JanusAscending]

12. This is so wonderful to hear!

GOOD NEWS for a change! I can relate...I have a son who did 6 yrs. in prison for "vehicular manslaughter" (drunk driving) The origional sentence was 10 years, so he got time off for good behavior. I must commend the Ct. State prison system, because they did rehabilitate him, and he learned a trade and got his GED, as well as a new outlook on life. He was 18 at the time. He is now in his 40's, and living a productive life.

[Joe Chi Minh]

31. It IS wonderful. When you think of all those potentially good youngsters getting broken in body

and spirit, forced to fight wicked wars, and then so many in your privatized prison gulag, all for the cynical enrichment of a particular class of alpha malefactor, it is beyond tragic. And that is not even taking into account the Iraqi and Afghan peoples.

[malaise]

13. Given that Rachel Maddow's PhD

is on prisons, you may wish to email her and ask her to run a series on this change.

[annabanana]

14. true that , Waterman... She knows this territory. . n/t

[laughingliberal]

15. Big K & R! nt

[stevedeshazer]

16. That is indeed good news.

My wife has been a juvenile court counselor for more than thirty years.

Social workers in general don't get much credit for the great work that they do. But I have a lot of friends who do it and they are dedicated and well meaning folks who make a big difference in the community.

I wish more people could see that.

[HughMoran]

17. K&R

Glad to hear some positive news for a change.

[bliss_eternal]

18. Thanks for this...!

...wonderful news indeed! :thumbsup:
Sincerest thanks to you and your family, for taking an interest in working with these populations. It's not something many take an interest in--commendable work. :)

[Cleita]

20. Your family sound like the salt of the earth.

If only there were many more who were willing to work to help those who can't help themselves.

[Moonbat2]

21. Courts Today

if the courts would just give these kids a second chance I am
sure most would turn their lives around and be productive
citizens
pay taxes instead of being a burden to society

[bobburgster]

27. That is so nice to hear!

Thanks for sharing that with us!

[laylah]

29. I have always honored and read

your essays...be they about this topic, or others.

I am now 59 yrs. old...I have 38 yrs. under my belt doing youth services, 9 since I got my degree. I have been cast aside.

That said, I am so glad to hear about your son/nephew and their efforts. I have always felt kids have NO choices. I also have a problem with sentencing kids as adults. YES, they do need to see consequences; however, their brains develop much later.

Excuse my tangent. Thank you, as always, for your insight :hug:

Jenn

[lisabeeen]

32. great to hear~

Thank you for sharing that news---i would love to hear more about your family's perception of the changes going on---- I am a clinical worker in private practice so miss seeing the larger picture of changes in organizations....thanks!