The Criminal

On Friday (2/6), I received a call from the school principal. It seems as though my son decided to punch another classmate in the eye, unprovoked, in the cafeteria. When I asked him what happened, he told me that this other child wouldn't let him put his head down on the table to rest. So Justin turned to him and socked him right in the eye. Thankfully (and luckily) the punch was not that severe and the other child didn't suffer any serious injury -not even a black eye. As school policy states, the school could not release to me who the other child was, but in speaking with Justin, I found out that it was a child he's known since kindergarten. They've been in the same class every year and have always gotten along (no incidents).

The principal suspended Justin from school (1 day) and I was in total agreement with the principals actions, but at a loss as to what punishment to bestow upon him. My ideas included chore-work, but being like most young children, he loves to help out whenever he can. There's not a chore he doesn't like to do....except for "pooper-scooper!" which is usually delegated to my husband. So, over the weekend, he spent 2 hours in the back yard picking up the dogie land mines. At one point he said "But Dad, I don't want to do this!" Chad's response, "Yes, I don't either. But thanks to you, I don't have to...you do!"

Other penalties included writing apology letters to the principle (for hitting one of his students), to his teacher (for missing class on Monday) and to the poor child (who suffered my son's wrath). He also spent most of his weekend in his room reading books and writing in his journal. He was not allowed to watch TV, play video games or go outside to play with his friends.

I knew I had to put the fear of God into this boy, but how? What was I going to do with him on Monday to make his life as miserable as possible, as to thwart off any future acts of violence? A quick Internet search on Google gave me the answer! A visit to the police station!

So, Monday morning, I called the local P.D. and asked if I could get an officer to "talk" to my son! "Do I need an appointment?" I asked. "Nope! Just bring him in and we'll take care of him! We do this all the time!" "All the time, eh? That's kind of scary!" I thought to myself.

Nevertheless, off we went. When we left the house, he didn't ask where we were going, nor did I volunteer that information. I had decided to make it a surprise. The whole way there, I had knots in my stomach and I kept doubting myself and wondered if I was doing the right thing. I now know that I did. When we got there, what seemed to be the meanest, toughest looking female officer came out to the waiting area and introduced herself (she was actually quite nice to me!). She asked me why we were there and, after I gave her a short version, she escorted him back behind a heavily locked door and left me sitting in the lobby. After about 20 minutes, they both came back and she asked him to step right outside the front entrance doors (which were glass, so we could still see him but he couldn't hear us). She turned back towards me and the first thing she said was "He is sooooo cute and so smart!"..hmmmm, tell me something I don't know!

She told me that she initially took him back and basically scared the crap out of him. I ask how she did that and she told me that she showed him the jail cell and handcuffs. She talked to him about why it was wrong to hit and what he should do if that happens again (which is to walk away and tell a teacher). She also introduced him to the biggest, tallest officer they have on the force. And the first thing he said to Justin was "Am I bothering you? Do you want to hit me?" Of course by that time, she said, he was shivering in his boots! They also talked to him about Juvenile Detention and what the kids are like there. They went over what would happen if he did this again and how he would be arrested and booked. She also mentioned to him that her own daughter goes to the same school (which she told me was true) and that if he EVER, EVER hit her (or anyone else) that she personally would come and handcuff him. Little did I forget, that they (the parents of the kid whom Justin hit) could press charges! I'm sure glad they didn't!

Then they did something that kind of surprised me - they talked to him about what he wants to be when he grows up and what he has to do to achieve his goals! He told them how he wants to go to college and become a Train Engineer. They gave him lots of advice and encouragement to "do the right thing!"

Overall, I think it was a good experience for him to see what happens to criminals! Before we left the parking lot of the police department, I told him that I NEVER want to have to take him to the police station AGAIN! I think he got my point!