THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, January 17, 1997              TAG: 9701180018
SECTION: FRONT                   PAGE: A12  EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Letter 
                                            LENGTH:   17 lines

DON'T PUT KIDS IN ADULT JAILS

When we started treating juveniles like adults when they commit adult crimes, I had no idea that meant putting a 14-year-old in an adult jail. A 14-year-old is a child, even if he pulls a trigger on a gun.

I say yes, sentence the juvenile as an adult, but keep him (or her) in a juvenile facility while awaiting trial. And when the juvenile is sentenced as an adult, put him in a juvenile facility until he turns 18.

RICHARD ELLIS

Norfolk, Jan. 9, 1997