Analysis Of Loco Parentis By Robert Telford

1073 Words3 Pages

"I can 't define what it is but I know it when I see it," (Loco Parentis"). In today 's society, parental neglect and abuse is covered on the news every single day across the globe. Recently a plethora of new cases are being defined as "Loco Parentis". Loco Parentis is a phrase in Latin meaning for in place of a parent and in court usually refers to a specific person or organization to take on some of the responsibility for the crime that has taken place. This is the conflict brought up in the case of John Telford and the murder of Chris Skinner , and the role of John 's father in this whole epidemic. While charging someone with "Loco Parentis" is not an easy task to accomplish in any case, Robert Telford 's actions of neglect and emotional …show more content…

Throughout this particular case the audience learns numerous details about how John 's personal life may have led him to be a killer. John was a part of a group at school known as the "freaks" who were constantly victims of the popular kids ' bullying and taunts. John was even mugged at the young age of only thirteen by some older classmates. John 's father 's response was highly negative and abusive, telling John repeatedly that he was ashamed of him and that he needed to toughen up and be a man, and bought his son illegal weapons and violent video games instead of helping his son confront his conflicts. Later in the case the jury is introduced to Leo Clayton a boy who has experienced numerous of the same traumatic events that John had been tormented with, except for the fact that Leo 's father actually listened to his sons silent cries for help and confronted Robert about John 's inappropriate behavior at school towards Leo. While this did not eliminate Leo 's problems it did open a healthy and communicative relationship between father and son and showed Leo that he was not fighting this battle alone and that he was …show more content…

While John 's mother never confronted her husband about his actions, or went to the police before the murder she did eventually confront the police during the trial. " Sandra Telford had her husband served with divorce papers at Riker," (Locos Parentis"). While this was the right thing in the end, later everyone was debating on whether or not she should go to jail as well, but in this case I believe that she was just as much as a victim as John and Chris were. For all the jury and police know she could have been physically abused, and even gas lighted by her husband which makes it even harder to leave. These possibilities make it harder to leave someone and with a total of 4,000 deaths every year related to domestic violence she could have been attempting to protect her own life. While she personally was not convicted of any crime in this case, Robert took a deal and got two to six years in prison, his son was sentenced to ten plus years. This particular sentence is unjust due to the fact that John could have been dealing with the abuse from his father starting from the time he was born, so he may not know right from wrong. Due to this factor and evidence in the case I believe John should be put into a mental hospital so he can attempt to learn right from wrong and get the therapy he obviously needs. Looking at the evidence against Robert I believe

More about Analysis Of Loco Parentis By Robert Telford

Open Document