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Youth protection services did a lot worse to a kid with mild autism quite recently (who had done nothing except "kicking a wall"). Kept him in a face down restr

Youth protection services did a lot worse to a kid with mild autism quite recently (who had done nothing except "kicking a wall"). Kept him in a face down restraint on the ground until about 30 minutes after he died. Yes, really. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/max-benson-el-dorado-california-school-student-with-autism-collapsed-later-died-investigation/ https://www.cbsnews.com/news/max-benson-el-dorado-california... There's another difference as well. Help was called for George Floyd before he died. It was established that the California Youth Protection Service did not call any help whatsoever for this child until 30 minutes after he died. Note that this kid was not even suspected of committing a crime. Not then, not ever. To me, that this happens calls into question why institutions like this are allowed to exist at all.

danaris 6y ago
It's certainly true that some of the institutions that are being talked about for being pushed to take up some of the slack when we defund the police do not have the best records, either. My family has had harrowing experiences with the mental health system, so I am absolutely cognizant of the genuine concerns with trying to increase their role. But that means that we should also fix the problems with those institutions, not that we should just allow the police to continue to operate with impunity, no matter their abuses. It may be a long, hard road, but ultimately I believe we can have a safer, kinder, more just society as a result.
- candiodari 6y ago
  What? While it's true that there is a small minority of kids in youth protection because of involvement with the police, at least 90% of them are there because social workers decided, mostly against their and their parent's wishes, that they needed help and couldn't be allowed to be free to refuse that help. And of course 0% of kids in youth protection facilities are convicted of a crime (they would be somewhere else if that were the case). Youth protection services don't "take up slack for the police" at all ...

danaris 6y ago

It's certainly true that some of the institutions that are being talked about for being pushed to take up some of the slack when we defund the police do not have the best records, either. My family has had harrowing experiences with the mental health system, so I am absolutely cognizant of the genuine concerns with trying to increase their role. But that means that we should also fix the problems with those institutions, not that we should just allow the police to continue to operate with impunity, no matter their abuses. It may be a long, hard road, but ultimately I believe we can have a safer, kinder, more just society as a result.

candiodari 6y ago
What? While it's true that there is a small minority of kids in youth protection because of involvement with the police, at least 90% of them are there because social workers decided, mostly against their and their parent's wishes, that they needed help and couldn't be allowed to be free to refuse that help. And of course 0% of kids in youth protection facilities are convicted of a crime (they would be somewhere else if that were the case). Youth protection services don't "take up slack for the police" at all ...