Jail safer than CAS

January 29, 2010 permalink

A Sarnia Ontario teenager in CAS custody found it so dangerous that he begged a judge to send him to jail for his protection. The judge punished the boy by sending him back to his CAS group home.

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Youth demands jail

Posted By NEIL BOWEN, THE OBSERVER, January 29, 2010

A 13-year-old who demanded jail time for stealing an iPod so he could be protected from bullies was sentenced Thursday to six months probation.

The youth pleaded guilty to stealing a classmate's iPod and violating a court order to live at a designated address.

The theft was reported and school staff identified the boy as a suspect. Officials at at a group home at which he was living were notified and found him listening to the iPod.

He was grounded but ran away from the home for a short time.

Defence lawyer Don Henderson the youth feels safer in secure custody compared to group homes, where he is bullied.

He spent about a week in custody awaiting resolution of his case.

Justice Deborah Austin said she understands it's tough for him to be the youngest in a group home, but that doesn't allow her to place him into custody. She sentenced him to probation with the condition he perform 16 hours of community service.

She also scheduled a hearing in two weeks to review residential placement for the youth, who is under the supervision of the Children's Aid Society.

The youth justice act prohibits publication of his identity.

nbowen@theobserver.ca

Source: Sarnia Observer