Late last month, ACLU executive director Steven Brown sent Barrington Police Chief John LaCross a letter criticizing the department’s recent arrests of juveniles and charging them with criminal offenses for their use of social media.
On Monday, Dec. 7, Chief LaCross responded with a statement of his own, clarifying the details surrounding those arrests.
“Of the three juvenile cases involving the transfer, posting of naked photos or requesting naked photos, not one juvenile was placed under arrest in handcuffs or brought into physical custody back to the police station,” wrote Chief LaCross.
“After discussing the situation with their parents, all parents agreed to present their child before the Juvenile Hearing Board, a non adversarial body where restorative justice discussion is involved. Not one offender was sent to the Family Court. All juveniles received counseling from the board members regarding the negative consequences of their actions. One juvenile had to write a letter of apology and a second a research project to assist the police in educating other juveniles about internet safety and proper use.
“The third juvenile case has not been before the JHB as of yet. An education curriculum has been underway by our School Resource Officer to be presented before the high school and middle school population.”
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