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Katrina and Juvenile Offenders

by TChris

Louisiana's juvenile justice system has always been atrocious, but Orleans Parish's indifference to the welfare of juveniles was particularly evident during Hurricane Katrina.

More than 100 teenagers held in detention during Hurricane Katrina endured horrific conditions in the storm's aftermath, including standing for hours in filthy floodwater, having nothing to eat and drink for three to five days, and being forced to consume the waters as a result, according to a report released here Tuesday.

Those in the "law and order" crowd who are tempted to think that juvenile offenders deserved whatever harm they endured during Katrina should consider this (emphasis added):

"They left us in there with no food and no water," said Eddie Fenceroy, 15, a former detainee against whom charges have since been dismissed, advocates said.

Mr. Fenceroy described standing in the floodwater for "a whole day" before being rescued. "Some people were drinking the water," he said.

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    Re: Katrina and Juvenile Offenders (none / 0) (#1)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed May 10, 2006 at 12:44:02 PM EST
    Yes, New Orleans has been run by crooks for years. I can't wait to hear how this is Bush's fault.

    Re: Katrina and Juvenile Offenders (none / 0) (#2)
    by jondee on Wed May 10, 2006 at 01:11:50 PM EST
    Its only his fault that Washingtons been run by crooks for six years.

    Re: Katrina and Juvenile Offenders (none / 0) (#3)
    by chemoelectric on Wed May 10, 2006 at 02:33:30 PM EST
    It seems to me that the first mention of Bush was by JRT. Mistreatment of juveniles in the facilities of states and counties is an interesting topic in itself, surely not restricted to cities run by crooks (another likely non sequitur).

    Re: Katrina and Juvenile Offenders (none / 0) (#4)
    by kdog on Wed May 10, 2006 at 03:58:30 PM EST
    You'd think the last screw to leave would have the basic human decency to unlock the cages during a natural disaster, and give the kids a fighting chance. Imagine being desperate enough to drink that rancid water. Shame. N.O. justice is famously corrupt, but I'm confident this could and would happen in any prison in the country.

    Re: Katrina and Juvenile Offenders (none / 0) (#5)
    by jimcee on Wed May 10, 2006 at 05:33:42 PM EST
    I hate to state the obvious but this is an incredible character building moment. The situation was a metaphor for a sh*tty youth lifestyle that landed these fine young folks in the pokey in the first place. Screw up and your life is adrift and no one cares. Heck if there is a literate individual among these fine young men then there is a literary story to be had by a publisher. Somehow I doubt there are literary agents floating around these youngsters but I can guarantee there are a bunch of lawyers who are fliting around this case.

    Re: Katrina and Juvenile Offenders (none / 0) (#6)
    by kdog on Thu May 11, 2006 at 06:58:13 AM EST
    incredible character building moment.
    Maybe 20 years in hindsight jimcee. As it was happening, I'm sure it was a hell on earth, I'm gonna drown or die of thirst or disease moment. I hear you though...I'm sure all those boys have learned a valuable lesson. Stay far away from prison and state care...they'll leave you to die in a cage the first sign of trouble.

    Re: Katrina and Juvenile Offenders (none / 0) (#7)
    by jen on Thu May 11, 2006 at 09:28:21 AM EST
    Yes, valuable lessons learned: you can't trust the law the teensiest weensiest little bit, because they won't even save minors from an oncoming disaster.

    Re: Katrina and Juvenile Offenders (none / 0) (#8)
    by HK on Thu May 11, 2006 at 12:17:07 PM EST
    I can only assume that the reason there are so few comments on this thread is that like me, others have failed to find words for this, a situation which beggers belief. Would a parent not be prosecuted for locking a child in a cage and leaving them in an enclosed flooded area? Aside from the fact that this is blatant child abuse, I cannot believe that anyone would do this to another person. Even if we were talking about violent adult offenders, provision should have been made. I'm shocked and disgusted.