Reflection

Capstone has Been Such an Informative and Amazing Project Because I Learned A Lot about Both Juveniles and Adults. Since the first day where I met with a juvenile probation officer I knew that I wanted to do something that have to do with juveniles because of the way that she spoke to me about her job and the role she plays in that child's life. She really inspired me to want to do the same because just like her she's the one person that has faith in them and believes they will make it. The only sad reality about being a probation officer for either juveniles or adults is seeing that not everyone gets the message of wanting to change their life around But by no means does that mean we shouldn't make the effort to try and help them get back on track try to make them go the right way.

When I got the chance to go to them Maguire County Jail in Redwood City it was eye-opening because it's unfortunate to see grown men trapped in the system and are awaiting to be sentenced, possibly to life. These men will be leaving behind daughters sons mothers fathers family members all because they never thought about the consequences to their action. They were never really informed about the consequences that their actions would have. I believe that if they were given the opportunity like the program, Alternative to Expulsion, they might not have been trapped in the system. Although they were never given the opportunity to go through a program such as the one my mentor runs. It's really difficult to say that if they were given that chance they would change their life's around because having the ability to make smarter decisions really comes with age. Lisa Federiksen, a speaker that comes to the program, help me understand that the development of an adolescence brain isn't complete until they are 21 years old. All the speakers that are a part of Choices at the Maguire County Jail in Redwood City entered as juveniles and eventually their actions escalated to where they are now part of the adult system. Although juveniles and adult have age differences the fact that is the same is that they are still developing that ability to process their actions to know that what they are doing has a consequence. That development is interrupted when juveniles are inside juvenile halls or county jails ; it'll take longer for that part in their brain's to develop because they're in a controlled environment and are around people that might have got them there in the first place. We are taking the chance of having them around people that don't want to rehabilitate themselves; people that are at a point where they do not care.

Many times people do not stop and think about the stage that their brain is and think that they should know better but in reality they really can't they're not capable of doing it because in their brain there's so much gray matter like something that blurs their ability to see things differently than what is around them. A lot of teenagers nowadays are easily influenced, they are not the person to blame.

If our society desires to have children that are active in the community that aren't in gangs, that aren't doing drugs or not drinking alcohol we should take it upon ourselves to provide that information to inform and educate our our youth on their consequences and how harmful they can call themselves. When I met up with the attorney she told me that 40% of all programs were cut in the County of San Mateo cutting the funds for programs is like cutting the chance to have a youth that will prosper and will lead our country in becoming a prosperous educated and overall better country.  More and more we are seeing young kids get involved in games being violent and as a community we aren't doing much to stop that we are letting our young ones Louisdale lives not only physically but emotionally we're losing them to a system in which they do not care for our children. Having juveniles adolescents kids be in juvenile hall is stripping them from their chance to get an education to actually pursue a career many times but dolts other elders people that are in charge of the school board complain about the use because it but yet they don't take the time to understand the reasons Behind their actions. Going back to the program alternative two expulsion I believe is a great start to want to put focus on our youth and want to have something better than we have today. Having gone through that program twice I've noticed different things every single time and have learned new things every single time. This past program I was astonished shocked to see that the group of kids is getting younger there were 12-year-olds in involved with wanting to sell marijuana now I asked myself we see that the age of these kids is getting lower Is frightening to me to see that young children are getting involved in things the shit and I know that the responsibility shouldn't fall upon the government nor the county or the teachers it goes back to the home environment yet so I understand that but something that that we need to understand is that if we do not invest nor put in for in having something they can a place they can go to Where it's a little something better than what they are around having more places they can go after school where they can participate in sports get taught computer lessons it seems like it may cost a lot a lot of money that we don't have but if as a community we come together and write restore our used I believe that we can do it. Even though we have lost adults that are in County in prison if you look at the numbers we still have to work to restoring peoples education educating them and letting that informing them about their consequences being able to have programs even for adults because if they were given it as children or as juveniles there should be at least programs for them as adults we don't want to see. Our entire generations going down the drain it is frightening thought and this project really highlighted the importance of community the importance of unity in a community and family because those are two factors that are vital to the survival of this generation.

Judge Livermore

1 hour
In Judge Livermore court room he has a team a team that evaluates the defendants and works together for the best outcome. To become a judge you must be a member of the bar and have a minimum of 10 years as an attorney as well as volunteer work to be appointed by the government as a judge in the courts. In the process of becoming a judge you are assigned to sit in trial as a settlement lawyer which is like a lawyer mediator. As a judge there isn't much ability to change what's happening only efforts to assist someone. As the church that is in charge of drug court he takes special interest in all his clients. He really pays attention to the progress of the addicts and does his best to acknowledge there hard work. At times his job can be challenging when a person falls into that addiction again But he likes to have faith and each and everyone of them and reassures them that they can make it and will be able to stay clean. As a jagged she constantly works on educating himself on how addiction works and how he can help them out.

He informed me that it takes about $75,000 to send a person to jail and That about 60% of people are in jail and about 40% it's too late because they are adding next abused as kids or were brain-washed. He also touched on things and said that they show them love that's not found at home which is why people that going to games feel safer and do the things that they're told. By doing those things it's just as bad as the bad you're trying to escape.

He said something that I believe was the greatest moment throughout this project which was reassuring me that as a Latina young lady part of minorities I become somewhat credible such as an attorney who can use their education to educate others and make a difference in my community.

A Grieving Aunt

Derrick Gaines was a 15-year-old boy that was shot by a South San Francisco police officer on the night of June 6, 2012 for suspicious behavior. Since this was a case that was so close to home the aunt of Derrick stepped forward and volunteered her time to speak to the students that were going through the program Alternative to Expulsion. She shared her experience as Derrick's second mother and how Derek's mom was never present in his life due to drug use and his father as well was never really involved in his life. As a child growing up he didn't have that typical home of mother and father which is something that is very common in this community. Derrick Enjoyed writing songs and wrapping two days before he died he told his aunt that he wouldn't be able to write song unless he lived through them. His songs were about games and dying. He won't be able to live a different life because he made the mistake of running from the law enforcement while having a handgun on him. The purpose of bringing the aunt to talk speak to them is To show them how much pain they would inflict on their family members on their friends and that they can be mistaken for someone if they continue to hang out with the wrong crowd or try to be someone that they are not. That by being around people that look suspicious having things you're not supposed to have can lead to their death. Although I never met this boy I feel for the family and it just makes me want to come back to this community give back to this community so that deaths like Derek's, Pepe's, Hector's don't continue to happen.

Curiosity Killed the Cat

3 hours

At Garden Chapel in South San Francisco I got to hear many stories that were heartbreaking and made me once again realized the dangers that are around the youth. Their lives are being put in danger by not paying attention to them closely we are letting them slip away from our hands. A woman came and spoke about her little sister Irma Perez [14] who had a painful death because she was curious in trying ecstasy. She was a very young bright girl who had many ambitious goals but wasn't able to live them because she was influenced to try that drug that eventually led to her death. Young kids need to realize is that they do not know how or what the content of the drugs they are taking has. They do not know how their bodies will react to that drug or alcohol. If they were to go unconscious who knows where they would end up, what would happen to them or if they will end up disappearing. It definitely is a frightening thought to think that there are 11-year-olds, 12-year-olds, 13-year-old, 15-year-olds that smoke marijuana and believe that they cannot overdose, which isnt true. She points out how not even a doctor will be able to tell you how your body will react to react to a drug thats prescribed to you. A teenager cannot say that they've taken a drug and they know how their body will react to it because it may be from the same dealer but coming from different people, the content may isn't the same and their reactions to it is never for sure. I don't think that kids know the dangers of taking these drugs of drinking alcohol. It's not a secret that teenagers are very curious and want to try new things so as parents as friends as guardians should all take it upon ourselves to sit them down and tell them the possibilities that taking a drug can be and that it's real and you cannot take it back. The last thing that that lady's little sister told her friends at that sleepover was, "Tell my sisters and my family I might not make it." By the time her older sister was notified that she was in bad conditions, vomiting several times, seizures she was at a point where she can no longer speak no longer hold herself up she was rushed to who a hospital they didn't have the necessary materials there so they had to send her down to another hospital in where they had the things she needed but by then it was too late. The doctors couldn't do anything because her little sister was brain-dead she couldn't breathe and was connected to machine. The women didn't have to make the decision of disconnecting her little sister because there really wasn't anything the doctors could have done to save her. It's hard to have to accept the fact that your little sister went to a sleepover tried a new drug for the first time and that drug ended her life. What I got from this was that you never know where drugs come from and you never know how your body is going to react to it so it's just best that you do not ever try or experiment with drug. A word of advice for parents: get to know the family, the environment and the kids very well and know what your child is around before you allow them to spend the night. Feel free to check up on them when ever at what ever time at night and have open communication with the parents because you do not want to be in the situation that Irma's older sister was in and come back to a dead body. Lastly advice to kids don't ever hesitate in calling 911 or some that can be of help in a life or death situation. Don't be afraid because you can probably end up saving someone's life or ending it.

The Perspective of a Juvenile Attorney

March 22, 2013
1 hour

Meeting with a juvenile attorney was extremely helpful to understand the law behind sentenceing a juvenile. Unfortunately in the County of San Mateo 40% of the budget was cut and all centers. This greatly affects juveniles because programs that are to help have been cut back meaning they do not have much support and will continue to be on the wrong path that they are in. At the moment they are brought in by police if not giving released to the parents they assessed to see which program would fit them or if they would need to go to the juvenile halls or put in programs that help them. Because of the lack of development in their brain some do not improve and don't realize that their consequences to what they have done. Age is a major factor to them going back to the halls. Games aren't largely responsible for them becoming a certain way because once they become a part of a game they cannot go back moving away does not help then nor can they escape. If they are in gangs and are released home there are sometimes situations in which that transition may get interrupted by then killing someone else because of their involvement in gang. Generally once they enter the system and come back time and time again the crimes escalate and continue to get serious.

Addiction and the Brain

April 30, 2013

2.5 hours

Drugs have an enormous effect on family,  substance use leads to addiction there is a difference we need to understand how it comes together and how we wanted to change. In the 1980s there was an old message the health of the brain there were no air holes. With the advanced technology in the 1990s and in the 2000s people were able to look inside a brain and study it. There were three major groups in the brain: the cerebellum which is the "motor control" controls breathing and walking, the limbic system which is in charge of reaction and is where the pleasure points and rewards are; the area in the brain that justifies the repeating action of something. Although the gray areas in our brain may come back it does not completely come back after substance use. There are many myths about drugs and alcohol. Myth number one is that drugs and alcohol does not affect you and that is wrong! Myth number two: drinking water or having a big meal will make you less drunk that is wrong it may slow down the process of getting into the small intestine and into bloodstream but does not make you any less drunk because all alcohol goes through your bloodstreams and into the liver it cannot be sweated or vomited. Being drunk is very dangerous because it can lead to blackouts which is when the brain cannot remember a thing you do. An example of these blackouts are something called date rape when you under the  may the influence may forcefully have sex with someone and the next day not remember a thing. The type of all alcohol does make a difference because the S.D. labeling on bottles vary you may think you're having one shot of tequila but in reality it's as if you were drinking three or four beers. Myth number three: drinking coffee or taking walks sobers up a person, that is wrong the only thing that can sober a person up is time. Myth number four: you will not get a DUI if you wait a couple hours, wrong! According to the DMV if you are 110 pounds to 129 pounds two drinks in an hour or less are allowed, 130 pounds to 149 pounds three drinks in less than an hour. Myth number five: teen brain is no different than adult when drinking that is completely wrong! A child's brain at the age of 4-15 there are major growth going on by drinking alcohol or using drug the process it stopped and can permanently affect you. The problems that are at risk when choosing to take a drug or drink alcohol is that there are five different categories of risk factors: genetics, social environments, early use, childhood trauma, and mental illnesses.

Words from the Wise

December 5, 2012
3 hours

The program brings in many speakers that talk about their own experience. In one of many presentations one of the speakers told them once again that the choices that they make have consequences, whether it be good or bad. They're lucky to even still be alive in the streets because he has had friend that were just like them thinking that nothing would happen to them and they are either in prison or dead. They don't want to have the prison experience they had because in there there are no friends, there is no privacy. There so called 'hommies" aren't there to protect them or do the time with them. Once they get out of prison or county jail it's like they have to rebuild a whole new life with even more obstacles. Their "hommies" for sure aren't going to be around to lend them a hand to help them et back on their toes while staying out of trouble.

They understand it's difficult to have goals because you don't see instant gradification but one of the speakers said "You either get it or you get it taken away," referring to the fact that once any one of them goes to prison you loose ever right you have. An analogy that was used by a person that participates in the program, Alternative to Expulsion, was that life is like a hill; it gets steeper, steeper, wet and slippery. The hill has a beginning, middle and an end; all the people that have talked to them have been to the top of the hill and know what there and the pot holes that are on they way. They have an option to listen to what they are being told about hose pot holes or experience it themselves.

Stand up for what you believe in and don't let people tell you what you are or what you can and can't achieve because you are the person that builds that character, value who you are. Sometimes people will shape who you are and make you believe that you are that. Try testing your "hommies" out and just quickly pay attention to see if they help towards building your character. 

No one is an island, our choices affect every single person around us. Before making a decision ask yourself, "Is that going to take me to what I want to do?" We all ahve a purpose in this life, its a step by step thing; where you learn may things on the way. A lifestyle can be more addicting than a drug it's never too late unless.. you die.

Probation and the DA with Juveniles

1 hour

The probabtion officers can offer programs for the first time offenders so they won't get a record. The review police reports with the DA and come up with a plan for them. DA deal may reduce sentence take some charges away.  They decide what charges they will be but them as well as evaluating the juvenile as a person. They have an arrinkment detention hearing and read charges, give attorney out of custody longer than 10 to 15 days. Pretail changes case begins to review cousils/attorney and represent child. Probation officers provide report, school report, and an entire report from the day they were born to the day they came into contact with law enforcement. As a consequence they maybe required to do some public service work or go to an victim impact awarness program. Juveniles can be on probation until they're 21. When adolesents aren't ready to change probation is seen as punishment. None the less probation officers put efforts in the people that are ready to change and get a jobs, housing, college, babysitting for young parents. Parents can also work with probation officers to set a curfew for the adolescent and rebuild their lives; helping them transition from the halls to the community.

Plant the Seed for Your Future

2 hour

Adolescent should think about their future more than ever in their teen years because all their actions are going to affect them directly. All kids are smart and have the ability to do something in this world. They can do anything they want all it takes is to set their minds to it. Being part of the youth gives them the great advantage of having the will and support of many of their peers to do something different. The first step they should take is surrounding themselves with positive people that will help them succeed. If a kid is around people that look forward to hanging out and doing nothing with their lives there a huge chance that they will end up the same way. It’s difficult, if not nearly impossible, to say that you’re around people that drink or do drugs but you don’t. The people adolescents are around, is the way that others are going to perceive them. I learned that kids have a hard way wrapping g their head around that concept; my mentor, Patrick Lucy, put it in a more understanding form, “You walk like a duck, you dress like a duck, you talk like a duck, you’re a duck.” It plain and simple, in the eyes of others you’re just like “them.” People already don’t take the time to get to know someone and there’s a smaller chance if an adolescent is around positive people.

Now that the first step is done planting the seed is next, this seed with sprout to be what ever the person wishes. I learned to understand that school isn’t for everyone but that doesn’t mean that a juvenile can’t do something else like go to a vocational school or trade school; specializing in something that they enjoy doing. Although some jobs aren’t going to pay as much as others it is definitely rewarding to look forward to going to your job everyday. The daily choices that are made by any youth can lad to their success of their down fall.

Monkey See Monkey Do

1 hour

“Monkeys see monkey do,” is often the phrase that is used when referring to children. I must completely agree and think that often times it applies to adolescent in their teen years. This time of age is a difficult one without a doubt. Many adolescents that enter the justice system, as Judge Etezadi points out, are a direct result of their home environment and the way that their parents are with them. Not many parent like to admit this but their children are how they’ve been raised to be, that’s not to say that that’s the same cases for everyone but it is for most. Children pick up ways parents live their life, which is why parents have to try and have a peaceful environment for their children at home. Parents have to be willing to listen to a person (child), visa versa. Parents are teaching their children how they are going to resolve their issues. If a parent tends to yell and  not have control over their emotions; their kids aren't going to grow up to be any different.

Kids should think before they act, think about the pain that will be inflicted on their families. If they decide not to change their lives around it will only lead to pain and loss. Adolescents need to have the courage to change and not be weak, say no to the negative things that may be around them. It creates a happy moment for the families and the judge to see kids come back not for disciplinary reasons, but kids that are getting an education and holding a job. All the credit is completely given to the child who has put in the hard work and efforts to change their life around because neither the judge nor the probation departments are responsible for their actions.

Everyone Has a Talent

December 4, 2012

3 hours

Alternative to expulsion is a program that is offered to students in South San Francisco School District that have been expelled from their school but are given the opportunity to attend another local school. They must sign a contract and attend five mandatory meetings with a parent or guardian for four hours. On day two of the program the kids were taken to San Mateo where the Juvenile courts are and get to hear the judge’s perspective. They are taken there to show that their actions have consequences. Judge Susan Etezadi Juvenile Court Supervising Judge spoke to them and gave them advice not every trouble teen gets to hear. She assures them that she doesn't want to see any of them in her court room but warns them that all their actions do have consequences. She gives them the advice of getting an education, a job, to do something productive like volunteer because those are all things that will make them feel good and like they’re doing something that’s helpful to themselves and/or others.

I learned that everyone has a talent but they’ve just been distracted from them and hopefully they grow out of it. Kids should be having fun enjoying extracurricular activities at school like playing sports, communicating with others, and follow rules because they’re going to exist wherever they go in this world. Any adolescent should find someone healthy that they can talk to about anything that’s troubling them, if that someone isn’t their parents to find a teacher or a friend or relative that can help guide them through their troubles so that problem doesn’t consume them and it becomes too late. Once they turn eighteen it’s extremely difficult to compete with hundred other applicants that are looking for a job.

Drug Court

November 26, 2012

2 hours

Drug court is a program designed to facilitate substance abuse recovery through treatment, court appearances and reinforcement of probation conditions. People that have been placed in the drug court program are under intensive probation supervision and are required to constantly appear in court so they can monitor the clients' rehabilitation process in their treatment. The same Judge monitors the client throughout the program, and show a caring ongoing concern about their recovery outcome. The Department Probation Officers administers can hold random urinary test, which test if a person has used any type of substances. In the case of a probation violation meetings would be boosted to more times a week. Probation Officers provide all possible support with optimal recovery incentives. 

There are very specific  charges that make people eligible like having possession of Marijuana for personal use, prescription fraud, forged prescription or obtain drugs by false prescription, second degree burglary, petty theft with prior or forgery. The charges have to be convicted as a felony but cannot be charged in the same case with any other offense except being drunk in public, reckless driving, being under the influence of a controlled substance, possession of a hypodermic needle, driving with a suspended license, or driving without a license.

During court clients are call up and their Probation Officer reviews the clients behavior to make sure that they're taking things seriously. Some receive their next court day and other get sentenced. If they're behaving well they are congratulated by the judge and receive an award such as a gift card for Starbucks, Jamba Juice or McDonalds. The judge interacts with them a lot and really shows that he care about their recovery. It is vital for a recovering addict to be recognized for his/her efforts to recover; it motivated them to continue with their treatment because someone is recognizing their hard work and understand its not an easy process.