PUBLIC OPINION > It's Not OK to Handcuff Kids
SodaHead News
2012/04/20 13:00:00
The parents of 6-year-old Salecia Johnson were shocked to find out that their child had been handcuffed and hauled off to jail on Tuesday. According to The Associated Press, while at school she "threw a small shelf that struck the principal in the leg, and jumped on a paper shredder and tried to break a glass frame." At some point administrators called the cops, and when the officer couldn't calm her down he put her in cuffs and took her to the station. This story has "controversy" written all over it, so you know we asked the public.
Sure enough, the results are just shy of a split decision. Overall, the voters decided against it by a margin of 10%, but there was more than enough support to get a toasty debate going. The real issue seemed to be whether there were any other options available. Those who voted in favor of the cuffing assumed there must have been good cause; those who voted against it assumed it was an overreaction. Some blamed the parents for not teaching her to behave in the first place; others wondered what the school did to cause the tantrum. There were a lot of angles.
Teens Think It's Terrible
Voters closest in age to the girl were most likely to oppose the officer's use of handcuffs. Maybe it's a little scary to realize just how vulnerable they could be if they don't act right. If a 6-year-old can get the cuffs, they're certainly not immune. Plus, they probably remember what it was like to be six a little better.
Parents Weigh Their Options
You might think parents would be more defensive, but they were actually more supportive than most. Along with voters who don't want kids at all, parents were split down the middle. However, voters who want kids someday were much less supportive. They don't know what they're in for.
Liberals Don't Like It
Yes, of course there was a political element to this. It actually wasn't as pronounced as it could have been, but conservatives were two times as likely as liberals to condone the use of handcuffs in this instance. Right-leaning voters frequently pointed out that handcuffs are merely a restraint, and not physically damaging. At least they didn't tase her.
If you'd like to vote on this question, dig deeper into the demographics, or engage in existing discussion about the topic, visit our poll about handcuffing children. We'd love to hear from you!
Top Opinion
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fluer 2012/04/20 17:00:46
+16As a teacher who has had students out of control I can only assume this child was really out there badly. In the last 8 years we have only had to call the police one time and in that case they did haul the kiddo off to jail I think in cuffs. I guess they could have put her in a jacket, but if you stop and consider that she had already shown the inclination to injure and then destroy property could they let her go until she calmed down and potentially risk injury to another student or more property damage? Kiddo needed to be stopped to protect the rest of her peers and the staff from her destructive behavior. Do I like to consider this no, but in the real world where no one from the school can lay a hand on her without facing the very real possibility of a lawsuit the options are limited. Kiddo needs help but she also needs to learn there are consequences to actions. Sad all the way around.
Or, is any possible panic attack she might have due to her heightened sensibilities more important than the physical pain and suffering she already inflicted on the other students and teachers around her? Since when did we start giving in to tantrums and criminal behavior, and ignoring the pain of the victims?
Even though it is legal, in most cases, we can subdue the child without harming them, and place them in the back of the Cruiser with an escort Officer.
On the legality issue..
I'm not sure about GA, but in TN there are no POST regulations prohibiting a Law Enforcement Officer from restraining a juvenile using either standard handcuffs or flex-cuffs.
Juveniles are subject to same arrest and custody as adults. “Taken into custody” means being restrained (cuffs).
From the State of Tennessee...
- - -
“JUVENILE JUSTICE
You can be arrested or taken into custody for:
1. Delinquent offenses: acts that would be crimes if
committed by adults (traffic violations, theft,
assault, disorderly conduct, vandalism, etc.);
2. Status offenses: acts that are against the law only
for minors (drinking alcohol, using tobacco, curfew
violation, skipping school, running away,
being unruly, etc.);
3. Being dependent, neglected or abused: you can
be taken from your home if your health or safety
is seriously threatened or if there is a chance you
may leave town to get away from the court. You
can only be taken away from home if there is no
other way to keep you safe”
http://www.tennessee.gov/tccy...
- - -
The only juvenile that I too...
Even though it is legal, in most cases, we can subdue the child without harming them, and place them in the back of the Cruiser with an escort Officer.
On the legality issue..
I'm not sure about GA, but in TN there are no POST regulations prohibiting a Law Enforcement Officer from restraining a juvenile using either standard handcuffs or flex-cuffs.
Juveniles are subject to same arrest and custody as adults. “Taken into custody” means being restrained (cuffs).
From the State of Tennessee...
- - -
“JUVENILE JUSTICE
You can be arrested or taken into custody for:
1. Delinquent offenses: acts that would be crimes if
committed by adults (traffic violations, theft,
assault, disorderly conduct, vandalism, etc.);
2. Status offenses: acts that are against the law only
for minors (drinking alcohol, using tobacco, curfew
violation, skipping school, running away,
being unruly, etc.);
3. Being dependent, neglected or abused: you can
be taken from your home if your health or safety
is seriously threatened or if there is a chance you
may leave town to get away from the court. You
can only be taken away from home if there is no
other way to keep you safe”
http://www.tennessee.gov/tccy...
- - -
The only juvenile that I took into custody "cuffed" was a 12 year old male who attacked his Mother with a screwdriver.
Personally I did not like doing it, but in hindsight it was for the best to keep him from injuring anyone else or himself.
In all honesty, I'm not sure how the Officer got the cuffs on a six year old girl without them falling off.
If the cuffs are compressed to a small size, they will not lock, and the ratchet part will protrude, making them dangerous.
Our County, as with most, have SRO (School Resource Officers) that are trained in dealing with children.. at least in our County they are.
Cuffs are the very last resource in restraining a child, and in our County is rarely used. In most cases, just the presence of a Law Enforcement Officer subdues them.
http://eatourbrains.com/EoB/w...
When my neice was about 4 she was throwing a tantrum in a mall, her mother calmly walked over to a soda machine, purchased a cold soda and walked back and dumped it over her head. Tantrum stopped immediately, of course bystanders where appalled.
When I worked as a counselor, we were taught how to restrain kids throwing a tantrum. The problem is that it requires physical contact (we call it a "basket hold", holds the kid in place and gives them a chance to calm down) and I'm afraid that teachers and police officers alike are afraid of facing another sort of controversy-- this time in the form of adults having physical contact with another person's kid.
Some kids have issues. Sometimes it's from the home, sometimes its biological. A small kid can go out of control for no apparent reason-- and there is therefore no reasoning with them. It could be for a variety of reasons. But handcuffs simply aren't the answer.
I would have personally preferred to see the officer physically but gently and firmly restrain the kid in the basket hold or something similar until she calmed down. It's fairly easy to do, and pretty hard to break. I should know-- when my brother and I got into fights, he could easily and insultingly overpower me with that. Jerk. Such a cheat.
Edit: If anyone doesn't know what the basket hold is, you basically turn the kid around so that their back is braced against your hip. You grab each arm opposite to your own and cross them over the kid's chest, and pin them in place until they cease. It doesn't harm the kid, and it also prevents the kid's struggles from harming you (or other people, for that matter.)
I think it would have worked out better if the child had been held in a basket hold. Sometimes, being held like that makes a person feel "safe" and makes them able to calm down more easily. It's just unfortunate that it had to turn out this way this time. Because otherwise, they could easily get in trouble for "touching" the kid. It's distressing that it's come to this in our society.
I sincerely hope that if the child DOES have those kind of issues, that this opens up discussion between parents and school about how to best handle it next time. Unfortunately, instances like this most often result in the child being punished and blamed for everything, and little being done to address the root of the problem and to find a solution. :'(