To think abusive parents should bear the blame

[carolondon]

Children who have been in the media recently and have comitted horrific crimes against other children, (the Bulger case, The two boys in Doncaster are the two that spring to mind)have all come from horrific homes where they have witnessed and been subjected to violence on a daily basis and watched hardcore porn.

The behaviour they displayed has surely been learnt from the adults responsible for them. Does anyone agree with me when i think that not only should the children be sent away and rehabilitated, the parents should also serve an equal jail sentence for severe neglect.

[mrswill]

I apologise for being so cynical. Social work has seen many theories and approaches, and lots and lots of money (but not enough) is spent on interventions, but it still doesnt seem to be getting anywhere. My own personal/work experiences have made me wish that forced contraception was an option, when I see yet another baby being born knowing they will be abused and neglected. It may not be a moral or ethical, but I believe it is a undertandable opinion when you are faced with it on a day to day basis.
I am just trying to make you understand the reasoning behind why some of us may feel this way, and am not trying to sway anyones opinion, as everyones is valid, just giving a different viewpoint

[CheerfulYank]

I do not agree with forced sterilization for anyone because, like many others on this thread, I think it's a very, very slippery slope and who would choose where to draw the line?

I do think, though, that those like Baby P's parents (I'm not familiar with the case, and from the sounds of it I don't want to be)should never be allowed to have another child. If they do create one, it should be removed from their care at birth.

I believe in the rehabilitation of human beings, the possibility for redemption, and all that. I protest against the death penalty here in the US every chance I get. But I do not believe that child abusers deserve another chance to be parents. There's just too much at stake.

[oldenglishspangles]

Mrswill - social services may have spent money but I wonder how wisely it is being spent given how blatant the cock ups are.

[Alouiseg]

I think that enough money goes into the system to fund "better lives" but it only trickles through to frontline services, I would hazard a guess that the vast majority of the ss and education budgets get lost in quangos and administrations. Removing layers of bureaucracy would allow the money to go where it's most needed.

[mrsruffallo]

MrsWill- I have actually heard the people who work in these kind of jobs express such a wish. I do think the job wears you down, and I think it's more letting off steam.
It does seem insurmountable sometimes, the amount of irresponsible parents who are happy to have children they really don't care about.

The social work cock ups have been huge, but in the end it is not them committing these crimes of cruelty/neglect but the parents/carers themselves letting it happen. It is impossible to control everything , especially with parents who willfully deceive the authorities

[ppeatfruit]

Mrswill thank you for your contribution to this discussion, it is very valuable and reinforces my gut feeling.

it seems to me that there is so much confusion in our society about hopeless cases and giving rights to child abusers, murderers and peodeophiles.

There is no comparing a thoughtful policy to prevent the above people after being found guilty in court having more children and the gassing of a generation of jewish people, gipsies and gays by the terrible nazi regime.

[mrsruffallo]

I tink it's important to have all perspectives on this, not just the 'you must be BNP'brigade

[oldenglishspangles]

ppeatfruit - Hitler did not just kill jewish people he 'thoughfully' killed those who he considered unfit to be a part of his 'supreme' arian race. This included, the disabled, gay, the mentally ill and many other undesirables. Eugenics is wrong no matter how you package it. You may 'solve' one problem but I can assure you 10 more problems will crop up in its place.

[ppeatfruit]

oledenenglish.. if you had read my post I did mention some of the other "non aryans' who the nazis tried to exterminate.

I still feel that the lives of young children are more important than the 'rights' of their abusive and or murdering parents.

[Alouiseg]

I resent the BNP/Nazi mudslinging that goes on whenever there is a discussion about negligent parents.

Some of us think that innocent children need more care and protection than they receive. Some of us also believe that there needs to be more than a hug and a cup of tea for the parents who commit atrocities against there own/other children.

If these heinous crimes were committed against adults there would be charges of Gbh, Abh, wounding with intent etc.

But for some peculiar reason children can be treated as a parent sees fit however appalling it is.