Runner,

Not quite sure what Democratic mayors in the US have to do with Indigenous kids here in jail, but there you go. If one tries hard enough, one can draw the dots between can two phenomena.

Of course, it may be too late for those kids by the time they are well into stupid, petty (and not so petty) criminality. Their idiot and useless parents have already done the damage. The kids are stuffed early.

So perhaps the entire policy of allowing parents to destroy their children should be reviewed. But with the changes that Wyatt has made seem to be in precisely the wrong direction. Am I suggesting that fostering arrangements should be broadened ? Yes, with the criteria not necessarily being 'cultural' (whatever that means) but for the genuine care of the child - which may mean fostering the child out to non-Indigenous parents.

I worked for a time with a lovely student, fostered from a very young age by an elderly non-Indigenous farming couple, who was always happy and enthusiastic, and who graduated as a doctor and worked for fifteen years around Katherine; now very sadly deceased (cancer). Her parents used to turn up for events with their sandwiches. A lovely family. It can work. In fact, it may be one of the only ways which do work.

Joe

another 'stolen' generation Joe? I think numerous things could be done to help these kids if the 'elite' did not insist on putting commonsense below culture and overpaid activist and ngo's who profit from keeping alive the dysfunction. Numerous ngo's were willing to stop child abuse in Roeburne WA in recent years.

'Numerous ngo's were willing to stop child abuse in Roeburne WA in recent years.'

apologies

Numerous ngo's were failed to stop child abuse in Roeburne WA in recent years.

another 'stolen' generation Joe?

runner,
it's more a case of stolen common sense by our education system & do-gooders etc. !

I thought Bill Leak's cartoon had the wrong caption. The policeman should have said to the father: 'we'll make your son feel right at home in jail; we'll treat him the same way you have done'. Child offenders need help not punishment, especially punishment for parental neglect. If they are as bad as some of the posts here claim, jail is not going to change them, they will just learn how to be better criminals.

The elephant in the room is cringing, in disbelief at hearing someone trying to offer suggestions or advice on how to fix an impossible situation.
Those kids who are "good" will not be bad.
Those that are "bad" will very rarely suddenly turn away from the "dark side", and become good.
Sure it has happened, but so rarely, it's better to just ignore it.
Once again my point is made by the usual do-gooders on here.
Just reading, quoting, hoping all things nice and sweet, does absolutely NOTHING in addressing or correcting these 'loose canons'.
I'm not going to dwell, but is anyone aware of the numbers of different cultures and their offences?
Just wondering.
Foxy, Paul, this is one topic you really should not engage in as your views are well known and counter productive in this particular case.
As confirmation Foxy, you recused yourself from this topic in the third last paragraph of your last posting.
If engaging in this type of debate "puts a lump in your throat", it is clear that you should not be commenting on it.
How many times have I said that decisions have to be made objectively and pragmatically, and not subjectively and emotionally.
Until you are prepared to look at the real world and accept what is going on out there, you should not be giving any opinions.
I tell you what, as a first step to learning about the real world, why don't you take in one, just one, of these problem children, as you are so incensed at the idea of them being incarcerated.
Then and only then can you comment with some kind of authority.
As for the rest of us, including myself, we have experienced, both personally, and anecdotally the problems first hand, so let us know how you get on.
I await with great interest and hope, to hear your report on YOUR experience.