SAN ANTONIO — There were tears of regret in juvenile court Christmas Eve morning, as youngsters accused of serious crimes wanted to be able to go home for the holiday.
But for many, their actions caused reactions that will keep them locked up while their families are home celebrating without them.
One grandmother sobbed as she addressed her grandson, a 17-year-old who picked up a gun possession charge when he was already on probation.
“Tonight when we are celebrating the birth of Christ, I will be wondering what I did wrong when I raised you! Where did I go wrong?” she cried.
Judge Cruz Shaw told the grieving woman “It’s not you. You know that. “
Turning his attention to the teen, exasperated, Shaw said “What is wrong with y’all man???”
Shaw said it is a scene that plays out over and over, looking for the right formula for success.
Shaw said “There’s no secret sauce, and so it takes all of us working together, holding kids accountable, but at the same time trying to get the resources for the family and that child so they can hopefully turn it around.”
Shaw said it takes caring adults, therapy and often the right mix of meds before kids can go home.
Shaw told another teen who had been doing well but started to slip because he was not taking prescribed medication appropriately “I want you home because I’m proud of you for doing well but like I’ve always told you if you take your meds you will feel better.”
Getting better takes time so for many this will be a holiday delayed.
One teen asked plaintively “I can’t get released today?” with Shaw ordering him to remain detained.
Shaw said oftentimes kids with mental health or medical issues don’t get the help they need until their behavior lands them in custody.
“This young person has to be arrested first and put into the system in order for the services to kick in,” Shaw said, adding “So with that diagnosis, a lot of these kids can’t get that that resource because their parents don’t have insurance or lack of information, so when they get arrested and we see something’s going on we have the ability to order a psychological exam.”
Shaw said progress often comes with intervention.
“They can get the proper meds and the proper treatment and hopefully be successful,” Shaw said.
With regard to keeping kids in custody during the holidays, Shaw said sometimes detention is the safest place for them.
“I mean some kids want to be home, their families want them home, and we want them home. But, sometimes we have to save these kids from themselves or from their communities because they’re going right back into an environment that maybe have at-risk behaviors,” Shaw said.
It’s a balancing act, Shaw said “Some kids they’ll just hang out with other friends, start drinking, smoking, who knows what they’re gonna end up doing. So, here we know they’re safe. They have a place to sleep. They can have their meals. We definitely want these kids home, but sometimes we have to hold them accountable.”
Shaw said it’s a comforting feeling when kids return later, grateful for an opportunity to succeed.
“They come back and say ‘you know what, I graduated high school, or I’m doing well, I got a job, or you know, I have a family now,!’ And I’m like wow, it’s great, and we get kids come back all the time, that you know are like 20, 21, 22, like, ‘hey, thanks, you know I appreciate it.'”
There are success stories from kids who stumbled and fell, but with help, managed to right themselves.
In early December a teen we will call ‘”Hope” to protect her privacy read an impassioned letter to Cruz, saying “I told myself I have too much to lose.”
After some trouble, she took a step forward with STEP, an intensive program that stands for Stabilization, Treatment and Evaluation Program.
The teen told Shaw “Through the STEP program I learned to feel my emotions and not bottle them up. I learned to let them out in a more socially acceptable way.”
The teen’s father told Shaw “I’ve definitely seen a change in her,” adding he remains hopeful, saying “Of course, I would love to have her home for the holidays.”
With a broad smile, Shaw told the teen “When you first came in here, you were a hot mess, but you’re learning and following treatment!”
Shaw agreed to take a chance and Hope is now home for the holidays and beyond if she sticks to her resolve.
Hope chirped, “I would like to be given a chance to prove to you, my family and myself, I deserve another chance. Thank you for your time. Happy Holidays!”
There are many teens who come through the system without much family support, so there is a program called Volunteers in Probation that matches kids needing help with caring adults who want to help them remain on a positive path.
The number to volunteer for mentoring opportunities is 210-240-1828.