Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Question about severe emotional distburbance/mental illness incohousing

[Joanie Connors (jvcphd]

It is indeed true that some police/police forces overreact. It depends on 
the community and whether they have any youth focus in their criminal 
justice departments. That would be a good thing to look into.

But the law is the ultimate boundary, saying "this is not OK". This boy is 
described as having harmed children and pets and having threatened other 
children plus adults, in addition to abusing alcohol (which though not 
unusual in teens, makes him more likely to lose control when imbibing).

Police are part of our greater communities, and it is important to work with 
them in positive ways whenever possible. Refusing their help because some of 
them in other places handle things badly is throwing the baby out with the 
bathwater.

Diana's community may or may not be at that point. But for a community 
needing to set boundaries, police are part of that continuum if lesser 
measures do not work.