Abuse of Discretion

by Pamela Samuels Young

“These days, a smartphone in

the hands of a kid can have more devastating consequences than giving them a loaded gun. And the average parent doesn’t have a clue.”

“This boy made the mistake of getting caught with a naked picture of a girl whose father and mother are close to the mayor.” This is not how the system is supposed to work. Rich kids get special treatment, while black and brown kids get shafted. “Is the kid in custody?” “Yeah.

“Officer Chin was sitting on the other side of the table, but Officer Fenton was sitting on my left, really close to me. He was facing me and his knee was bumping my thigh. Like on The First 48 when they’re in a tiny room interrogating somebody trying to get them to confess.”

“Graylin Alexander is a kid,” I finally say. “He did something any kid—even your kid—might do in the same situation. He expressed his adolescent curiosity. He’s not a criminal. Don’t punish this kid for simply being a kid.”