Plus, we’re in a different climate from just a decade ago. Now, every manager and agent tells their young celubutantes to be very careful, because the media is playing up anything to do with any celebrity (turning Britney into a monster of a mother is way over the top, compared to what really awful parents are out there — incl. the mothers in your earlier story), especially if they’re white and female. 15-20 years ago, Winona Ryder might have bought her way out of the shoplifting mess, but now it’s sensationalized. The stuff sells, for one, but also, we’re in a period where people are determined to prove that “justice is blind,” even if it means going to the other extreme of being excessively punitive.

As for Duc Ta, you say “there was no hard evidence he was a gang member,” but “often hung out with gang members.” Under the terms of gang injunctions, doesn’t that make him a de facto gang member? Kids have to know that we’re facing a war on urban terror: if you talk and walk like a duck… Be smart, stay away from gangs.

BUT I’m all for rehabilitation instead of just throwing away the key. Aren’t Baca and LAPD working towards this? And we know they realize the need to focus on intervention and prevention — if Cardenas, Chick etc. can get it together.