TCPottery t1_j2e61u8 wrote on December 31, 2022 at 4:27 PM

Reply to comment by Kolzig33189 in New Haven officer ‘chased juveniles’ while off-duty by MyGodItsFullOfClowns

Kids get charged with misdemeanors or with being incorrigible for things that were simply considered pranks prior to the 80s and all the super-predator fear mongering. Give kids a break - most annoying activities are outgrown and require zero juvenile justice system involvement.

Kolzig33189 t1_j2eeqzr wrote on December 31, 2022 at 5:26 PM

It depends on the situation. If teens TP a tree on someone’s property, sure it’s annoying to clean up but that shouldn’t be a misdemeanor.

What happened on my cul de sac on Halloween last year was 3 people (likely teens but who knows for sure) went in backyard of several houses and brought chairs and other patio/deck furniture out in front and threw it in the street. Items were obviously damaged. Cameras picked up pieces of them doing it but with masks on and no car within view it made it impossible to get any helpful descriptions. Would misdemeanor charges (if identified obviously) be appropriate there? I think absolutely yes.

TCPottery t1_j2er47o wrote on December 31, 2022 at 6:49 PM

Yes, that's apples and oranges. Definitely they should be cited and make amends for their behavior.

Kolzig33189 t1_j2fus0s wrote on December 31, 2022 at 11:38 PM

That’s my point; situations are not always equal. Some people (not saying you, just in general) will say the same things or kids will be kids when it’s TPing a house, smashing pumpkins in the street, or similar and they would be correct. There’s no damage, cost, etc.

But other people still excuse more serious behavior issues as kids will be kids like the scenario I described so it’s never as simple as give the kids a break across the board without knowing exactly what is happening; each situation is fairly unique.