I understand the anger of having experienced this...

but working with "correctional kids" the current correctional program is... stick them with other troubled/violent people I have learned that this just makes things worse

When they do get out they will repeat the offense, no question about it. instead you keep the kid under a house arrest and have physiological evaluation (at the parents expense) and you will start to condition the kid NOT to act violently, its never garunteed to work but its possible. why? I work for the Roanoke City Schools I see kids every day fight and steal stuff you stick them with other kids who do the same crap and they just want to do more to be "better" than the other kids they are stuck with.

Our current government way of dealing with things is putting them away and ignoring them... doesn't even work in theory...

Hope Jeri makes a full and speedy recovery