Should incarcerated juveniles be allowed to attend the inaugural celebration? The possibility has some correctional officers at a California detention center in an uproar."This is a recession and there are kids running around L.A. without shoes," said an irate worker who asked for anonymity. "But they are flying criminals to Washington for the inauguration. It's ridiculous."
After the three were convicted of a home invasion in which an elderly woman was beaten, they were sent to the juvenile residential treatment camp known as Camp Afflerbaugh in LaVerne, Calif. Its Web site describes the camp as a facility that "provides intensive intervention." "The goal of the program is to reunify the minor and family, to reintegrate the minor into the community and to assist the minor in achieving a productive, crime free life," the Web site says.
The correctional officer I spoke with said fellow officers are disappointed that the Los Angeles probation department would even consider sending any of the juveniles to Washington.
"The juveniles committed a violent crime," the correctional officer said. "What we are doing is rewarding bad behavior."
Camp Afflerbaugh falls under the jurisdiction of the Los Angeles County Probation Department, the largest probation department in the world. A man who answered the phone at the camp on Friday referred me to the L.A. Detention Services Bureau, but not before denying that the inaugural plans were a done deal. Phone calls to the L.A. Detention Services Bureau on this matter were not returned by late Friday. But another employee with the facility claimed that on Thursday, the minors were taken to be measured for tuxedos and that a judge has approved the trip.
When it comes to rehabilitating juveniles, there are two schools of thought. Some of us believe that when minors commit crimes, they should be incarcerated and treated like adult criminals. Others are more compassionate, trusting that through counseling and education, a young criminal's crooked path can be straightened.
"The general idea of sending at-risk youth for them to have an opportunity to be part of this historic occasion of Obama's inaugural is, of course, a fantastic one," noted Susan Dvorak McMahon, an associate professor in DePaul University's Department of Psychology. "Often, they don't get these types of opportunities, and I think Barack Obama epitomizes a hope that you can have a different future." Because it is not clear how the juveniles were selected for the honor, McMahon was hesitant about commenting on this particular case. But she understood the frustration that some people might feel.
"I wouldn't necessarily want to reward kids who have committed a crime," she said. "But there are a lot of kids who are at risk who could benefit from this. There are lots of kids to choose from."
That's why the altruism of Earl Stafford, the founder of a very successful technology company in Virginia, is being talked about across the country. Stafford announced last Thursday that he plans to invite disadvantaged people — including wounded soldiers — to D.C. for the inauguration. He bought a $1 million inauguration ball package from the JW Marriott Hotel and plans to stage two balls — a youth ball on Inauguration Day, as well as a "People's Inaugural Ball."
"There will be those who are distressed and underserved mingling with people who aren't so," Stafford told the Washington Post. "The needy will be our honored guests. That's who inspired us." The once-in-a-lifetime event to install Barack Obama as the 44th president of the United States is expected to draw up to 5 million people from all over the world.
Officials at Camp Afflerbaugh may simply be trying to inspire three troubled juveniles. Still, there's no way to give these youngsters this incredible experience without sending the wrong message to their disadvantaged peers who have played by the rules.