I’ve been here one month and three days. My mom visited me, my auntie. My dad tries to come, but he works so he hasn’t come. My brother was involved in getting me here. He went to placement. My mom’s a little emotional right now. She doesn’t like for her kids to be in jail. I was here before for hitting a girl and shooting a BB Gun at someone. I was 10. I was in fourth or fifth grade. They had me here for two months and I think they want me to do it again now. I’m in seventh grade. My dad works for a car lube/oil change company. My mom is a nurse. She’s also in AV Community College. At home it’s my sister who is 23 and four boys. The 15-year-old is in placement. Placement is good, they take you shopping there. I can fix anything you throw at me, motorcycles, bikes.
— E.M., age 12