How times change. I really cannot remember any instances when I was 16-years-old and in school that my peers were selling ecstasy or other drugs. This tended to happen off of school premises as I recall. And, it was small time and infrequent and was not my scene.
However, it seems that times have indeed changed. A 16-year-old turning up to school late has had his bag searched by the school principal. Apparently, the student gave his permission for the search to take place. Well, bugger me if the principal did not find 94 tablets, thought to be ecstasy, with a street value of some AUD 3000.
Unfortunately for the kid, his parents, and possibly his supplier, he was denied bail. It would seem that the police prosecutor has managed to convince the Children's Court that the child is part of a sophisticated operation and that the alleged crime is of sufficient seriousness that bail should be denied.
The youngster has no criminal record. I guess if you're gonna go for it, then you should go hard, the whole nine yards, so to speak.
I wonder is this the start of the vicious cycle of crime and routine trips to prison? Or is this the pre-cursor to a second chance?
10 comments:
Sadly there will be more of this sort of thing - school is a great unregulated market place - 1000 kids with plenty of dough.... say no more
Rob,
From a business standpoint I would like to know if the $3000 was just a daily supply or weekly etc etc. That way you could realy get a feel for the operation. If his bail was refused maybe I could speculate that it was a daily supply therefore putting a weekly turnover at $21,000 (assuming to increase for Friday and Saturday nights)or just a tad over a cool million PA. Nice little earner!!!
Lawbugler...
I guess so. So, is regulation the answer? :D
GJ...
I can see why you're good at what you do. I am guessing you see potential for growing the business, even in these times of economic uncertainty.
Dealing ecstacy(or any other drug) requires a degree of anonymity if you are to be successful. If, as GJ contends you are selling 100 pills per day it won't be long before you become (in)famous and busted.
Not that I'm advising anyone to deal drugs....just sayin...
Pity to have a criminal record at 16. This will be out of topic but if at 16, you are allowed to be treated as an adult by the courts, than shouldn't you be allowed to vote?
PJ...
In a school setting I would reckon so. It would not be long before you come unstuck, as there would have to be one among the many who would drop the ball.
Indeed. If you have the legal capacity to be tried as an adult then surely you must have the capacity to understand enough of what is going on in order to vote.
Strangely, I can see where legalization may help to curb this sort of thing.
Though, that isn't quite the question posted, is it.
I was a bad kid in the school system. The thing that made it particularly worse was, after whatever punishment wass doled out, I was sent right back to the same place, same school, where I would just pick up from where I had stopped.
Indeed, it wasn't drugs when I went, either, but rather alcohol which was usually provided by Fish (his name) for a profit. Dang!
Jail was where some of my friends ended. They came out even worse than I.
Learned criminals.
DRUGS and ALCOHOL are NOT FOR CHILDREN!
that being said, when one is caught, there are others running with that child, and as many as possible should be POKED into a different place, altogether. No rewards of laziness, either! Same school work, same chores....
I dunno how to make that stick, but, trust me on this. There are a lot of partying teens out there that are ever so glad I'M not the emperor of the world! (like i ever could be, eh?)
Boneman...
Legalization might work on a more general level. Although, I am guessing not too many people would be lining up to sign on to the idea of legalizing drugs at the school-age level.
Jail quite often makes for a vicious cycle of recidivist behaviour and regular trips to jail.
great article. I recall the same when I was that age that nothing was being sold anywhere. Is it society's decay?
by the way, a principAl of a school gets an "A" and must have great principles....
Keep writing...
Sincerely,
John Michael
"Preserving the memories so others will remember..." (tm)
www.John-Michael.net
Dear All...
Thanks for the spot of principle instead of principal. The beauty of a spell checker and laziness on my part. I have since edited the piece and made the change.
Once again, thanks.
Pretty helpful material, thanks so much for the article.
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