Judge Ordered 12-Year-Old Boy to Get a Job

Parents have been telling their children to get a job for ages, but when a judge does it, that's definitely new.

A Western Massachusetts boy who spray-painted graffiti onto his neighbor’s homes as an 11-year-old was ordered Wednesday to get a job so he can pay the victim’s $1,000 restitution – and learn a life lesson at the same time.

The boy, who was identified in the Massachusetts Appeals Court ruling by the pseudonym of “Avram,” had previously had charges of juvenile delinquency put on hold for one year in return for his promise to make restitution to his Easthampton neighbors.

After he failed to pay a single penny within that year, Juvenile Court Judge James G. Collins extended the now-12-year-old boy’s probation for four years and ordered him to get a job – an order defense attorney Craig R. Bartolomei said was contrary to juvenile law and to the reality of society today.

Problem is, what kind of job can a 12-year-old boy legally do? The kid's defense attorney pondered:

“The state itself limits what they [12-year-olds] can do,’’ Bartolomei said in a telephone interview. “They can be actors, with a permit. They can work a farm, and they can basically deliver newspapers. But kids don’t deliver newspapers any more.’’

John Ellement of the Boston Globe reports: Link

See more about baby and kids at NeatoBambino

While I was delivering papers at 11, the infrastructure for that is no longer available. My suggestion is that he help neighbors with yard work for minimum wage. $4 per hour goes to the neighbor he owes and he keeps the rest. Debt is paid after 25 hours of labor. of course, the likelihood of that sort of kid actually doing and real work is very slim.
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It was, not sure if it still is, common for older kids around my area to de-tassel corn in the summer months. That would certainly teach him.

If he didn't even try to mow lawns, shovel snow, or do odd jobs for the neighbors then that's as much his parents'/guardians fault as it is his. I can understand if he flat out refused to the point of force, but then the responsible adult parties should have spoken with the judge after the first month of his refusals. Obviously, the kid has issues and doesn't realize that being ordered to do something as simple as mow a lawn for cash to pay someone back is getting a break compared to the alternative of going to juvenile detention.
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It is extremely hard for kids to get work these days. Newspaper delivery is a coveted job among adults with cars and families to support. There are crews with tons of equipment that go through neighborhoods mowing lawns in no time for $10 in the summer. And fast food outlets have their choice of adults who don't have to be scheduled around school. A kid has to be a real go-getter to compete. One of my kids had to become an entrepreneur to make any money, but she is not only earning, but learning. This particular kid will have to be forced into make work with someone who will supervise him every step of the way. Like the judge, maybe?
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