Publisher's Synopsis
Studieshaveconsistentlyconcludedthatmanypersonalitydisordersandmoreseriousmentaldisordersarebelievedtobethe resultof dysfunctionalfamilyrelationships, andvery oftenstemfromtheparent-childrelationship.Thismakessense, childreninitially learnimportantbehaviorsfromtheirfamiliesoforigin. Forexample, parentsarethefirstonestosocialize theirchildsotheycanteachtheirchildrensocialize andtosaypleaseandthankyou, taketurns, be patientetc.Theprimarypurposeofthisbookisto assurethatparentshavetheinformationtheyneed toproperlyraisechildrenwhohavetheskillsnecessary tobesuccessfuladultsandnotendupintheCriminal JusticeSystem.Bythetimeyouthendupinthe juvenilejusticesystem, itmaybetoolate.Theybecomelabelledanoffenderormaybeevenapredator.That labelgivessocietytherighttolocktheyouthup duringwhichtimetheywillbetraumatized. Sometimeswell-meaning, uninformed, andfrustratedparents perpetuatetheirchildrenenteringthecriminaljustice systemandevenofchildservingagenciessuchas socialservices.Whenparentsarefacedwithchildren whoareincorrigible, at-risk, ortheparentisunabletocareforthechilddue totheirownpersonalproblems, someparentswill welcometheinterventionofthecriminaljusticesystem forsupport.Aftertheirchildhasbeentakenintocustody, Ihavehadparentstellme, youraisemychildbecauseI cannotdoit.Someparentsbelievethathavingaccess toaprobationofficerwithabadgeandpowersofarrest, givesthemthereliefandrespitetheyneededtoaddress theirchildsdestructivebehavior.Mythreedecadesof experienceworkingwithyouthandparentsinthe criminaljusticerevealedthat, inmostcases, probationandsocialservicesinterventiondonotmakeyouthbetter. Converselyformostyouth, theirexperiencewith socialservicesandprobationdepartmentshas resultedinongoingdelinquencyandtheyouth transitioningintotheadultCriminalJusticeSystem. However, goodparentingisthegatekeepertothe crimin
