How should we deal with young offenders?
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Tonight, Rav Wilding met . Chris was in and out of prison for 18 years - for attempted murder, drugs, burgulary and armed robbery. Chris has been through the prison system and turned his life around. He tells the young people he works with:
"Crime is not glamorous. It is not an easy way out. You'll spend most of your time in prison and might end up dead." Chris has been law abiding for more than ten years. He's now an actor, film maker and mentor. He's delivered his skills and life training courses at schools and pupil referral units and is an associate artist at the National Youth theatre.
Chris says youth crime stems from poor parenting and educational opportunities:
"We've got a group of people who've become disengaged from society - because of bad parenting and the lack of the right education. It's our duty to take care of our young people, the same as it's our duty to take care of our old people."
"I'm not saying that people who have committed violent crime should not be locked up - they need to be locked up."
But Chris is a believer in rehabilitation in prison:
"I went into treatment, I had counselling, therapy, attended an enhanced thinking skills course and an offending behaviour course - which looked at why I offended. I also addressed my drug problems.
"Because I was able to address my emotional problems, I could go on and have some sort of clarity with my life.
"Deal with the emotional problems, then you can get the skills and the confidence... and then you can get the career - and the benefits of leading a life that is law abiding, and contributing to society."
More about Chris at his website:
How should we deal with young offenders? Add your comment, below.
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