Teenager Handcuffed During Court Field Trip in Detroit Sparks Controversy
DETROIT – A recent field trip to observe a courtroom session at the 36th District Court ended in controversy when a 16-year-old girl was placed in handcuffs and jail attire by Judge Kenneth King, who expressed dissatisfaction with her behavior.
During the visit, organized by a local nonprofit organization, Judge King noticed the girl falling asleep in the courtroom. He confronted her, stating, “You fall asleep in my courtroom one more time, I’m gonna put you in back, understood?” to which he later added that he wanted to show her the seriousness of courtroom conduct.
In an attempt to instill a sense of reality, King had the girl change into jail clothes and wear handcuffs, remarking, “I wanted this to look and feel very real to her.” He likened his approach to the “Scared Straight” program, aiming to deter the teen from future misconduct.
King further alluded to the teen’s attitude as the primary reason for his unprecedented actions, stating, “It was her whole attitude and her whole disposition that disturbed me.” He briefly threatened her with juvenile detention before ultimately releasing her.
The incident has drawn criticism, with advocates arguing that such methods of discipline are not acceptable. A spokesperson from the organizing nonprofit remarked that the girl was left feeling traumatized, and emphasized that the judge could have utilized different approaches to convey the lesson of respect in a more constructive manner.
Responses from legal experts underlined the need for appropriate measures in educating youth, indicating that there were alternative ways to guide the teenager without resorting to such extreme actions.
Judge King indicated that he had since spoken with the girl’s parents and offered to become a mentor, aiming to prevent this young individual from ending up in a courtroom again. The incident has ignited discussions about courtroom protocols and the treatment of minors in legal settings.
