Did I bash the Richmond (Ill.) P.D. a little too quickly or too hard yesterday?
I certainly don't expect any immediate turn-around of a request, but I don't think it's unreasonable to expect a phone system, especially at a police department, to work correctly. If you punch in an extension for a general mailbox, you ought to reach it and not be shuffled out of the system.
My thanks to Chief Fryksdale for his email this morning with the September 5th press release in the matter of the 11-year-old girl who tried a prank at a Richmond bank and ended up with a disorderly conduct charge.
But the press release of his department raises some questions, when set alongside the two articles this week in the Northwest Herald, where the reporter obviously got more information than appeared in the press release.
The hoax was on August 11; the arrest was on August 21. Why did it so long to reach the media? Did the Northwest Herald sit on it for over two weeks?
When was the hoax resolved? The date is not shown in the press release or the two newspaper articles. How quickly did Richmond PD determine it was a hoax?
Today's Northwest Herald reports that the still-unidentified girl got "6 months probation." OK, when was the trial?
There wasn't any trial. There was a "station adjustment."
What is a "station adjustment"? It's a police procedure where they scare the bejesus out of a kid but don't charge him (or her). Since the girl was apparently charged with a crime (aggravated disorderly conduct - a Class 4 Felony), how can a police department resolve this in the station?
Can this really be resolved by a juvenile officer without court involvement?
Is it the P.D. that set up the terms of the "probation", such as losing TV privileges and being grounded. Is that "home confinement" outside of school hours? And 20 hours of community service a week? For 6 months?
"Station adjustment" sounds like something that the public ought to know more about...
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7 comments:
Station adjustments are a way to give juveniles a second chance. As long as they don't violate the terms of the adjustment the charge is dropped and no permanent criminal history is established. That way a stupid mistake made when they were young doesn't affect them later in life.
Gus, you SERIOUSLY need to reconsider this run for Sheriff....you make it clear time and time again that you have very little knowledge of police procedures. Luckily you won't win otherwise you'd be doing more harm to the system than good!
Here's the problem. When police officers abuse their authority and act unlawfully during a "station adjustment" and get away with it while giving the juvenile a 'break', I have a big problem with that.
I have already heard from parents whose children have been "roughed up" during a station adjustment.
Officers must act within the law, but they are behind closed doors, out of sight of parents.
Oh Gussy- The term station adjustment sounds violent but it is only a form that is filled out by the officer setting terms/rules which the juvenile must follow (Curfew, attend school, etc). There is no physical action that takes place during a station adjustment in which someone could get hurt. It is a contract between the officer, parents, and juvenile in which all agree the kid will behave or the charges will be sent to court!
Frank, I agree that a properly-implemented "station adjustment" would not involve threatening behavior or actions by the cops. The kid would be safe in a police station; right?
Is a "station adjustment" a boot camp, where the cop scares the bejesus out of the kid? It shouldn't be that way, should it?
Now tell me: how does a kid and his parent complain about bullying by the cops and not expect retribution?
So now you're accusing unnamed officers of unnamed departments "roughing up" kids behind closed doors while cutting them a break after the juvenile broke the law? Get outta town!
Of course there's no formal complaints, just parents making phone calls to whine to Mr. Guspot....I'm sure from anonymous pay-as-you-go phones, too!
Don't run, sadist. They might mention your name...
Sounds like a "tune-up" to me!
LOL!
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