James Bulger

James Bulger was a 2 year old at the time he was kidnapped, beat, tortured, sexually assaulted and killed. His killers are said to be the youngest killers of the century throughout 250 years. These young killers were 10 year olds, Jon Venables and Robert Thompson. The killing took place in England.

The two boys went to the Strand Shopping Centre in Bootle, Merseyside on February 12, 1993. As soon as James’ mother, Denise Fergus was distracted as she did some shopping at a butchers shop, James was taken away and led by the two boys away from the centre for approximately 2 1/2 miles.

Many people noticed James being accompanied by Jon and Robert but when questioning them they answered that James was a little brother they also answered that they were taking him to a local police station because he was lost. Once they got to their final destination, a railway line they began to beat torture and sexually assault James. They poured blue modeling paint into his eyes, they stoned and clubbed him with bricks before leaving him to get hit by a train.

James was found dead 2 days later. The boys were viewed as naughty boys around the neighborhood. When it finally clicked to a neighbor that she remembered seeing the kids with blue paint on their shirts, the police questioned and brought them in for an interrogation. They confessed to the crime and had to do be tried in adult court because of the outrage by many people. They ended up having to serve 8 years in prison. There is not much about the trial due to the fact that these kids were minors.

In June 2011, the boys were released with new identities but it wasn’t long until Venables had to return back to jail for getting caught with child pornography. He admitted to having a sickness. He had to get a second identity. As far as for Thompson, he is living somewhere in England with his partner (who Robert was forced to tell about the James case). Today, Robert has shown that he is gay. Due to having new identities it is unknown who Robert and Jon are today.

Sadly I wasn’t able to find out why the boys did what they did even though I’m not sure if the crime itself explained the likes of the boys, the reason they are who they are. To further explain, I’m not sure if because they got caught and sent to prison missing out their childhood made them become gay (robert) and or become interested in child pornography (Jon). Or if they already had these factors before committing the crime. I think what they did was horrible. I was against giving them second identities. People have a right to know and be angry and they had it coming. I guess I’m being harsh because they were only kids when they did this but I am 100% sure they had morals and they knew what they were doing was wrong. I’m in favor of them being tried in an adult court. It’s a sad story and it’s hard to not let your emotions take over while trying to figure out the best consequence for these KIDS. For example, are the parents to blame? I’m not sure if this could have been avoided, because even with Jon, while he was in prison officials had no idea if his interest in child pornography. I think that’s crazy!

Another kid dead, parents to blame.

I feel like anyone who is not financially or mentally stable should have a child.

Another child is dead and the people who killed them were his own parents.

How is that okay? How is that happening?

It really upsets me when I hear stories like this because I feel hopeless. It's like when will this end?

Kids safety is usually always 100% on the parents. Growing up I learned that no one will ever protect you, no one will ever love you more than your parents. It's sad, that these poor kids that have been killed by their parents didn't get to experience what life is about, they didn't get a second chance, they didn't deserve the neglect and abuse. They didn't deserve to die especially by their own parents!

What upsets me the most is that it happens to kids under the age of 10, kids who are vulnerable and weak and may not be able to defend themselves.

Stories like this is the reason I study criminal justice. I have a thirst to put these ignorant, selfish people in prison. I can't stand people who have kids that aren't fit to be parents. I know not everyone is raised the same way and what may right for some is wrong for others but there are boundaries and limits to everything including parenting.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/father-allegedly-killed-year-son-hit-repeatedly-put/story?id=54359674

Society's safety Rant

As we read and hear about recent school shootings, does it scare you? Does it make you think of your surroundings? About Lewis? I feel like things have gotten out of control. Places we used to go and feel safe are no longer comforting. Our guards must be put up at all times, we have learned to distrust and instead we fear everyone who looks suspicious, or even if they just dress differently. We seek to blame others and we demand justice after the damage has been done. But is there really someone whose to blame? In these times, who do we blame directly for the actions and mistakes of others? There would be so many issues because we have people like police officers, security guards, teachers, parents, the government, the president himself, the kid who was bullied, the kid who’s mental illness was never given a second opinion, or the women/men who never got the help they needed because society shut them down. There are so many people living in this society and as much as we want peace no one is 100% down to make a change. I think that’s always going to be a problem as humans, we won’t speak up, we won’t help and we won’t take action unless it affects us personally in any way. So now, when we have school shootings, or shootings at the mall and or theatre, who do we blame? The shooter? The parents/guardians, friends, family, teachers, the doctors? It’s a sad cycle and I really do hope we come to a solution after so many innocent lives have been lost already. Society praises safety but they put restrictions, limitations and rules that prevent a change. Or even better, my favorite excuse of them all, they do nothing.

It’s fair to say that I don’t feel safe anywhere else except my home.

When I was little, I felt safer than I do now. In the future, my kid’s safety will be one more thing I have to worry about and living in fear sucks.

Rant over.

Trump's Border wall

He wants to built a wall to stop aliens from entering the country and he wants Mexico’s government to pay for it. Being Hispanic myself, I laugh at that because I know they’re not going to want to pay for it. Have you ever heard someone’s name and cringe at the thought of the person? That’s how I feel about Trump. Our criminal justice system isn’t perfect as it is and now having someone like Trump as president, is scary.

Reid Technique Audio

John Reid was a police officer who came up with idea, the Reid technique. It has become a technique many police departments use. However, it has it's problems. It can cause innocent people to be sent to prison for something they didn't do. The Reid technique involves observing a person being interrogated or interviewed to determine if they are guilty or not. Some things Police Officers look at is the body language, whether they keep playing with their hands, pretending to pick at imaginary lint off their clothes, shaking their legs... etc. The problem with this is, it causes anxiety to the point where people confess to something they know they did not do. Pressuring people for hours only makes them want to get out of the situation regardless if they did or did not commit the suspected crime. There have been examples of people who have been in prison and years later, it is later revealed that they were innocent. This then leads to the cops being under investigation for not doing their jobs right or the city being sued for all types of false accusations.

One thing that was mentioned was how television portrays investigations and interrogations. That is also false. In real life, it is boring. Television makes these situations very dramatic, go figure. More and more cases have appeared since the Reid Technique has been used and it has shown over and over again that there are obvious flaws to using this technique. This is why a new technique is starting to be used, it is called P.E.A.C.E which stands for preparation and planning, engage and explain, account, closure, and evaluate. This is well known in England because that is where it began.
This technique helps officers distinguish between a lie and the truth better than the Reid technique. It makes the person getting interviewed/interrogated say more details. This can cause someone to trip up their story. It gets harder to retell the scenario again and again with the same details. Personally, I feel like I would prefer using the PEACE technique because some people already know how to restrain themselves from looking anxious and that may throw off an officer, also because if it has been proven that the Reid technique has so many flaws than obviously there should be changes made.

Silent Students Say No

Highschoolers are standing up and saying STOP. They are tired of losing peers, family, and friends. I am happy that people, highschoolers to be exact are speaking up and taking action. I think back to all those times my peers and I did not agree with things but did nothing to make a change because everyone was either scared or thought it wouldn't change anything. It's sad that it takes a couple of school shootings for students to try taking these situations in their own hands. It makes me wonder what the students from Lewis University would do if a shooting happened here, would we unite? Would we speak up and take action or would we do nothing?

 https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/14/us/school-walkout.html

Freewrite

I am currently on my break at work. Earlier, I decided to walk around the store just to see what was happening outside of the office. It’s a Tuesday, so it’s not as busy as it would be on a Saturday or Sunday, thank God. I always swore I wouldn’t work in retail again and yet here I am, except this time my position is different. The setting remains the same and the people remain rude. I work at T.J Maxx in Countryside as Loss Prevention. I’m that person just watching everyone making sure no one is stealing and when I catch something, people are apprehended by my team or by the police. We are always watching. Since that’s a core skill in my position to have, it’s quite interesting what people will do for money. There are so many tactics I had never thought of before getting this job. It can be a good day or a boring day sometimes it all depends. People surprise me at the lengths they’ll go to in order to get what they want.