Teenagers: Hiding the Evidence

For regular readers of “Everything Brevard,” you have followed me on a fascinating journey through time. After retiring as a juvenile judge, I made daily visits to grade school and sat in as a student from grades one through 12. I did this to observe firsthand what happens during those 12 years to lead some youngsters into juvenile court.     

It was a fascinating opportunity.  

This last article finds me in high school where kids experience the problematic teen years. Later curfews, greater independence, drugs, and hormones blend into a dangerous concoction. For example, my “classmates” estimated that 80% of them used marijuana by the 8th grade. And all of them knew to use Visine to remove that telltale redness in their eyes following a quick puff. On the other hand, only about 25% of parents seem to know the trick — as it relates to drug use.  

How do they explain regular Visine use to their parents? “Sleepless nights of studying hard.” It's what parents want to hear, love to hear. But, they told me, its true purpose is to “erase evidence and keep parents off their backs.”    

Evidence? Did I hear a familiar word? Yes, and it led me to the key insight of my scholarly journey.   

I had long since realized that 50% of the kids who appeared before me in court had an inexplicable personality trait that put them there. I finally realized that the other 50% were there because their parents failed to closely examine the years of accumulating evidence that the child was doing wrong and was bound to be caught — by someone else, most likely the police.  

Those parents lacked the skill, motivation, or time to do some judging for themselves. They accepted bland explanations. They backed down when the tears came out or the defensive yelling began. They failed to fulfill their role as judge and jury. Instead, they took the easy way and waited until I had to do it.  

That was the key to my journey. Parents must detect the clues and determine if the clues are evidence of a pattern of improper conduct. From an early age, kids are skilled at letting you see the side of them that lets you believe they are the fulfillment of your dreams. However, many of them go about doing what they want to do. They lived a bifurcated life.  

So, parents, learn how to recognize evidence of potential bad behavior and scrutinize its probative value. Our libraries and online sources have hundreds of items available for parents of all aged children. There are audio programs you can listen to in your car or when doing chores.  

Kids don't self-assemble into responsible adults. You must be ready with the right tools at the right time.  

Larry Johnston grew up in Brevard County, where his family lived on a boat during his high school years. He has held a Merchant Marine captain's license and flight instructor and airline transport pilot rating. He retired after 17 years as a circuit judge and now writes and travels throughout the U.S. gathering material with his wife in their motorhome. He can be reached at LarryJohnstonFL@aol.com.

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