PSU Magazine Summer 1989

The growing influence of media violence on children " puts you in a hard spot if you're a liberal and you believe strongly in freedom of speech," she said. "You wonder if censorship ought to be im– posed in some form . I'm very anti state– imposed censorship, but I'm also very sup– portive of parental censorship." A ccompanying the rise in juvenile crime has been a corresponding increase in the size of the juvenile court caseload. English suggests the recent swelling of the caseload is partly due to stronger enforcement of juvenile laws, and partly due to children asserting their rights. "The definable, discernible shift in juvenile court has been from state custody to children's rights. In the past 40 years we have shifted dramatically from the parens patriae system (or the state as substitute parent) to children themselves having what we call 'due process' rights," she said . " Back in the 'old days' - as the due process people call it - the state pre– sumed it could take care of its abandoned and neglected children. But that system was very abusive, very sporadic, and very selective. A lot of children were ware- Katharine English confers with a staff member at the Donald E. Long Juvenile Center. housed , or not treated, or given inadequate care," she said. Today English contends that dedicated attorneys and juvenile counselors have moved the case law and statutes forward . "State agencies are now governed by law to do al l they can to provide the best treat– ment for the child and the best treatment for the parents. These agencies must pro– vide active services to attempt to reunite the family," she explained. She views the shift toward due process rights as a positive step fo rward . "But there are equally vociferous people on the other side who view it as a terrible tragedy. They think due process has turned the care of children into a legal issue and has thrown it into an adversarial arena. They see it as a delaying tactic, interfering with good counseling to families. Instead of giving parents and children enthusiasm for working together, they think due pro– cess gives the family members a posture that interferes with mediation and the solv– ing of disputes." The most difficult aspect of English's work is coping with the hopelessness that PSU 20 surrounds her every working day. "The thing you really have to have to continue doing this work is a large and strong fa ith that people real ly are good and something somewhere is waiting to work for these people. The other thing you have to believe is that one out of ten is a victory, because I don't think we get any more than that around here," she said . While despair is ever- present at the juvenile court , the rare successes prov ide great inspiration for English. " Lots of kids come back to visit (after serving in juvenile detention centers) and say, 'Hey there, remember me?' and they're one of about 3,000 and I have to figure out a clever way to get them to say who they are without them realizing that I don't ex– actly remember. It's wonderful when they come back. It'll keep me going for months." One of English's favorite successes in– volves a young girl who had a very abusive and neglected childhood and was turning into a chronic delinquent. Against the girl's and her parents' wishes, English committed her to the Rosemont School, a locked treatment facil ity fo r young women. Upon hearing the verdict, both the girl and her parents wept. The girl recently returned to visit English. She was about to graduate from the Rosemont School as one of its top students. English said she looked "very healthy, cheerful, and proud of herself." Successes like these allow English to remain enthusiastic and upbeat, despite the difficult nature of her profession. Watching her at work, it appears English has a lot to accomplish before she settles for retirement , a black-and-white striped shirt , and a referee's whistle. "Aren't these children darling?" she said , stepping into the courtroom fo r another afternoon of litigation. " I just want to take them all home with me." D (Writer and former PSU student Neal Brady has contributed to PSU Magazine in the past.)