Mississippi Judge Sentences 10-Year-Old Black Child to Probation for Public Urination. Tate County youth court judge Rusty Harlow sentenced a 10-year-old Black youngster to three months of probation and a two-page book report on Kobe Bryant for public urinating in a contentious decision. The youngster’s lawyer made an arrangement with a special prosecutor, who threatened to upgrade the charge from “child in need of supervision” to disorderly conduct if the case went to trial.
Despite initial reports of police mishandling, the prosecution chose probation to prevent a criminal record for the child.
Mississippi Judge Sentences 10-Year-Old Black Child to Probation for Public Urination. “I assumed a reasonable judge would drop the charge. It’s stupid. The criminal justice system failed overall.”
– Carlos Moore, Child Attorney
Senatobia police chief Richard Chandler admitted the cops breached their child-handling training. Chandler did not explain why one cop left. However, the incident highlights criminal justice system flaws, particularly youth treatment.
Carlos Moore worried about racial inequities, saying, “I don’t think there is a male in America who has not discreetly urinated in public.” He questioned if a white child would have been arrested under similar circumstances, emphasizing the necessity to critique law enforcement.
This episode has raised concerns about the criminal justice system’s disproportionate impact on underprivileged groups, especially children. After this controversial sentencing, calls for law enforcement reform and inspection of juveniles will undoubtedly increase.
A 10-year-old Black child was sentenced to probation for public urination, sparking discussions about juvenile justice, notably racial inequities. Tate County child court judge Rusty Harlow’s decision has drawn significant criticism, demanding a deeper investigation.
The child’s mother said that her son urinated behind her car while visiting a lawyer in Senatobia, Mississippi. The 10-year-old’s arrest was notable for both the crime and its potential racial implications. The child’s attorney, Carlos Moore, said, “I don’t think there is a male in America who has not discreetly urinated in public.” Questions arise regarding whether a white youngster would have suffered comparable repercussions.
Accepting probation was influenced by the prosecutor’s threat to upgrade the allegation from “child in need of supervision” to disorderly conduct if trial. Moore changed tactics to avoid a criminal record for the child after admitting the criminal justice system’s failings. The child’s three-month probation officer check-ins have sparked the debate about whether such measures are suitable for a 10-year-old.
Senatobia police chief Richard Chandler’s admission that the officers breached their child-handling training raises questions about law enforcement’s juvenile treatment. One officer has left, but the lack of information about their leaving raises questions about police accountability.
The case affects how the criminal justice system treats minors, especially marginalized ones. The Advancement Project’s Marie Ndiaye said, “Sentencing anyone, let alone a young child, to probation under these facts is sure to add to the trauma and denigration this child has suffered since their arrest.”
This episode may spur calls for law enforcement reform, particularly for teenagers. Sentencing the child and concerns about police racial inequalities and accountability show the need for a more equitable and just juvenile justice system.
