July 7, 2012Dear Sir,I was shocked to open up my Royal Gazette yesterday to yet another Dickensian horror. The abuse of a 14-year-old child, imprisoned for five months, under “Corrective Training”. Those two very ominous words conjure up visions that send shivers down my spine. When the ink is hardly dry from a letter I wrote on February 15 concerning a Noet Barnett in response to Sheelagh Coopers wonderful compassionate letter to the judge [which brought me to tears] about this young bright eyed innocent boy about six who was neglected and abused, neglectful teachers, and they must all know who they are, sending this boy up to the next class who still could not read or write. What a disgrace for all of us to have tolerated such obvious neglect, we must surely ask ourselves, who should be in that cell? Why should he pay for our neglect? Illiterate at 25 now, given a sentence of 25 years in solitary for attempted murder, thrown away and forgotten. Next Please!I feel we must all make amends and see this can never happen again. A child in a man’s body, sentenced to a cell for 25 years, unable to read or write, what would he do all day with one hours release in the 24? Just close your eyes for one moment, could any of us relate to that? Would we have grown up to be law-abiding citizens? No anger? No feeling of revenge, to have his future stolen from him and to leave him in this world with no tools? Could we answer that question? I have visions of many, maybe a hundred young boys and girls, tucked away in some building, crying themselves to sleep, confused and wondering what kind of world they have found themselves in! I have always tried to not only criticise but to offer some kind of help and solution, I ask of course for a miracle, but sometimes miracles come out of good seeds.Would/could the Health Department and Corrections consider a programme such as “Adopt a Juvenile Prisoner” a juvenile, obviously vetted by a committee to be a suitable subject, and then follow up with a team of volunteers, likewise vetted, I bet there would be plenty, [to be the kind counsellor], listener, understanding, and even eventually a possible friend. To perhaps guide that child into realising they are not forgotten and that there is an opening of hope with kindness, and even love in their future. I would be the first. The staff and caregivers of these facilities must be overwhelmed with the many cases that come before them, and there are not enough hours in a day to adequately handle them all with understanding and compassion. I submit this idea with all sincerity that this should be done, in some form or other, and I look forward to feedback with interest. In the meantime, I can only hope that JS is with someone who understands this tragic situation, and that gratitude, respect and praise will be heaped upon Chief Justice Ian Kawaley.DIANA WILLIAMSPembroke