Punish 10 year old fire-starter as a criminal?

I believe that the kid should be made to realize that what he did was wrong and he should most certainly be made aware of the extent of the damage caused. From what I've read I get the feeling he is already aware that what he did was wrong. As others have expressed I believe he should be made to perform some sort of community service and additionally I think it would probably be good to provide some of sort of education/counseling. Beyond that I don't believe trying to grind the kid through the juvenile system for the next decade would really do any good for anyone.

First, if he is locked up, any chance of reforming this kid will be completely defeated. If he is put in with a bunch of older, more serious offenders, it will almost guarantee that he turns into a criminal. In any case, it will wind up costing a lot more money; money that might be better spent trying to help the victims of the fire, rather than for prosecution and incarceration. Is it really right to destroy a young child's life just because of a mistake!?!

I'm sure some of those who have been injured by this fire might disagree, but one should be careful to consider that this is the type of thing that could happen to almost anyone! I'm sure there are many children who might strike a match, or do something else not too bright, but in most cases it would never become much of an issue. Seriously folks, if it hadn't been windy and dry and if the fire had been put out before it did any significant damage, would anyone even be considering this? I would find it hard to believe that most of us haven't done a few foolish things when we were a kid, but we just never had the misfortune of having it turn into a major disaster. I'm sure this kid had no intention of inflicting the type of damage this fire brought.

What I really find offensive is not so much the kid's careless mistake, but some people's bloodlust for vengeance. Lock the kid up for life, take everything the parents have, even if it's very little. I guess we could make them live on the street, just so that some people get their just revenge! Any parents here? I bet you're all thinking 'Why this could never happen to me?' Do you make absolutely certain you've thoroughly lectured your child on the dangers of fire? Do you keep all the matches and lighters under lock and key?

Comments (6)

MorningstarrNovember 1 at 3:24 PM PT

Well, at least we know it isn't Bossert's kid. I prefer the suggestions made on TITTS which have the kid do community service to a local burn ward and maybe do work at the horse ranch that had some of the injured horses and the guy that got burned trying to save them. We can either turn this kid into a criminal for life, or we can turn him into a productive citizen. Sometimes I look at things like this and think, gee, that could have been me as well. What good would it do to put a kid in jail? Vengeance isn't the right choice in my opinion, but I didn't lose anything to the fire.

mikeNovember 1 at 3:32 PM PT

I think he should be handled as any other 10-year old would. Of course he did something he knows that he shouldn't have been doing. 10 year olds shoot people from time to time also, and there is a separate system of justice to handle these sorts of things. Assuming he meant no harm, I don't think a whole lot would happen to him, even at the fullest extent of the law. An adult who accidentally sets a fire would be unlikely to face severe criminal penalties, so I have to imagine that a 10 year old can't be facing much in the way of criminal charges, all things considered. These fires became what they were because of conditions that couldn't have been understood (but the wind that morning was really bad, it's a wonder how he even got a match to light). As a former 10 year old, kids that age certainly expect the hammer to fall when they do things like that, but there isn't much you really could or should do that would be different than if he burned down a tree. The question of civil liability for the parents is clear, but one wonders if they could pay any more than they would if he burned down a tree. I can't really answer the question because I have absolutely no idea when 10 year olds get charged with things. I guess if they normally would he should and if they normally don't, he shouldn't.

RitaLockheartNovember 1 at 5:08 PM PT

In answer to your question: Only if it is found that his intent was criminal. But then the circumstances would have to be taken into account. It is sad.

honeystartpackingNovember 1 at 7:23 PM PT

I'm a bit confused on this kid, since initial reports stated he was 15, not 10. Regardless, I agree that some level of community service hours should be required of both the kid and the parents to stress the point that there was significant damage caused by his actions. Whether it's at the burn ward (which may be too much for him to see) or helping sift through and clean up buildings damaged by the fire, or helping with the horses really doesn't matter, as long as it helps to give a clear understanding of the damage that was caused by his actions. Letting him off with just a light slap on the hand won't have the impact that some level of community service would.

ToddNovember 2 at 7:33 AM PT

I believe that the kid should be made to realize that what he did was wrong and he should most certainly be made aware of the extent of the damage caused. From what I've read I get the feeling he is already aware that what he did was wrong. As others have expressed I believe he should be made to perform some sort of community service and additionally I think it would probably be good to provide some of sort of education/counseling. Beyond that I don't believe trying to grind the kid through the juvenile system for the next decade would really do any good for anyone. First, if he is locked up, any chance of reforming this kid will be completely defeated. If he is put in with a bunch of older, more serious offenders, it will almost guarantee that he turns into a criminal. In any case, it will wind up costing a lot more money; money that might be better spent trying to help the victims of the fire, rather than for prosecution and incarceration. Is it really right to destroy a young child's life just because of a mistake!?! I'm sure some of those who have been injured by this fire might disagree, but one should be careful to consider that this is the type of thing that could happen to almost anyone! I'm sure there are many children who might strike a match, or do something else not too bright, but in most cases it would never become much of an issue. Seriously folks, if it hadn't been windy and dry and if the fire had been put out before it did any significant damage, would anyone even be considering this? I would find it hard to believe that most of us haven't done a few foolish things when we were a kid, but we just never had the misfortune of having it turn into a major disaster. I'm sure this kid had no intention of inflicting the type of damage this fire brought. What I really find offensive is not so much the kid's careless mistake, but some people's bloodlust for vengeance. Lock the kid up for life, take everything the parents have, even if it's very little. I guess we could make them live on the street, just so that some people get their just revenge! Any parents here? I bet you're all thinking 'Why this could never happen to me?' Do you make absolutely certain you've thoroughly lectured your child on the dangers of fire? Do you keep all the matches and lighters under lock and key?

carrieNovember 5 at 12:40 PM PT

The people who should be prosecuted are the ADULTS who started the Magic Fire by welding on a red flag day with 2 major fires already burning. What is the purpose of the red flag warning if people do whatever they want and cause fires because of it?

MorningstarrNovember 1 at 3:24 PM PT
Well, at least we know it isn't Bossert's kid. I prefer the suggestions made on TITTS which have the kid do community service to a local burn ward and maybe do work at the horse ranch that had some of the injured horses and the guy that got burned trying to save them. We can either turn this kid into a criminal for life, or we can turn him into a productive citizen. Sometimes I look at things like this and think, gee, that could have been me as well. What good would it do to put a kid in jail? Vengeance isn't the right choice in my opinion, but I didn't lose anything to the fire.
mikeNovember 1 at 3:32 PM PT
I think he should be handled as any other 10-year old would. Of course he did something he knows that he shouldn't have been doing. 10 year olds shoot people from time to time also, and there is a separate system of justice to handle these sorts of things. Assuming he meant no harm, I don't think a whole lot would happen to him, even at the fullest extent of the law. An adult who accidentally sets a fire would be unlikely to face severe criminal penalties, so I have to imagine that a 10 year old can't be facing much in the way of criminal charges, all things considered. These fires became what they were because of conditions that couldn't have been understood (but the wind that morning was really bad, it's a wonder how he even got a match to light). As a former 10 year old, kids that age certainly expect the hammer to fall when they do things like that, but there isn't much you really could or should do that would be different than if he burned down a tree. The question of civil liability for the parents is clear, but one wonders if they could pay any more than they would if he burned down a tree. I can't really answer the question because I have absolutely no idea when 10 year olds get charged with things. I guess if they normally would he should and if they normally don't, he shouldn't.
RitaLockheartNovember 1 at 5:08 PM PT
In answer to your question: Only if it is found that his intent was criminal. But then the circumstances would have to be taken into account. It is sad.
honeystartpackingNovember 1 at 7:23 PM PT
I'm a bit confused on this kid, since initial reports stated he was 15, not 10. Regardless, I agree that some level of community service hours should be required of both the kid and the parents to stress the point that there was significant damage caused by his actions. Whether it's at the burn ward (which may be too much for him to see) or helping sift through and clean up buildings damaged by the fire, or helping with the horses really doesn't matter, as long as it helps to give a clear understanding of the damage that was caused by his actions. Letting him off with just a light slap on the hand won't have the impact that some level of community service would.
ToddNovember 2 at 7:33 AM PT
I believe that the kid should be made to realize that what he did was wrong and he should most certainly be made aware of the extent of the damage caused. From what I've read I get the feeling he is already aware that what he did was wrong. As others have expressed I believe he should be made to perform some sort of community service and additionally I think it would probably be good to provide some of sort of education/counseling. Beyond that I don't believe trying to grind the kid through the juvenile system for the next decade would really do any good for anyone. First, if he is locked up, any chance of reforming this kid will be completely defeated. If he is put in with a bunch of older, more serious offenders, it will almost guarantee that he turns into a criminal. In any case, it will wind up costing a lot more money; money that might be better spent trying to help the victims of the fire, rather than for prosecution and incarceration. Is it really right to destroy a young child's life just because of a mistake!?! I'm sure some of those who have been injured by this fire might disagree, but one should be careful to consider that this is the type of thing that could happen to almost anyone! I'm sure there are many children who might strike a match, or do something else not too bright, but in most cases it would never become much of an issue. Seriously folks, if it hadn't been windy and dry and if the fire had been put out before it did any significant damage, would anyone even be considering this? I would find it hard to believe that most of us haven't done a few foolish things when we were a kid, but we just never had the misfortune of having it turn into a major disaster. I'm sure this kid had no intention of inflicting the type of damage this fire brought. What I really find offensive is not so much the kid's careless mistake, but some people's bloodlust for vengeance. Lock the kid up for life, take everything the parents have, even if it's very little. I guess we could make them live on the street, just so that some people get their just revenge! Any parents here? I bet you're all thinking 'Why this could never happen to me?' Do you make absolutely certain you've thoroughly lectured your child on the dangers of fire? Do you keep all the matches and lighters under lock and key?
carrieNovember 5 at 12:40 PM PT
The people who should be prosecuted are the ADULTS who started the Magic Fire by welding on a red flag day with 2 major fires already burning. What is the purpose of the red flag warning if people do whatever they want and cause fires because of it?