Sean’s Escape from Abuse and Neglect

We first met “Sean” as a 10^th grader arrested for a fight at home. He was living in an environment where he witnessed and experienced abuse from his mother’s boyfriend. One day, Sean was defending himself from his mom’s abusive boyfriend. His mom called the police but took her boyfriend’s side – as she often did. Sean was arrested and taken to jail.

Sean is a quiet and reserved boy, but he feels deeply. At one point, he broke down in tears, sharing that he wasn’t sure if his mother even liked him. He needed support.

While struggling with abuse and a court case, Sean was also suffering from a very serious heart condition. For over a year, Sean’s mother neglected to ensure that he took his heart medication, nor did she visit him in the hospital when he had major surgery with the installation of his pacemaker.

Working on his case, Sean’s LCCR youth advocate, Curry, addressed his two biggest barriers: stabilizing his health and living situation. We got his birth certificate and a temporary custody card so that he can receive care from a doctor. He helped Sean explore benefits such as Social Security and SSDI, while connecting him with mental health services for his depression. Sean was hesitant about the possibility of a big medical procedure, so Curry connected him with someone who had the same heart procedure and could speak with him about the experience.

Despite everything he’s been through, Sean readily takes accountability for his actions. He has reflected on his choices and acknowledge where he made mistakes, which demonstrates a maturity level that exceeds that of the adults around him.

Today, Sean is in a much more stable place. He is living with his older brother, where he has a safe and supportive environment, and his heart condition is now being properly managed. He has returned to school and continues working toward case closure with the support of his LCCR team. After facing significant challenges at home and with his health, Sean now has the care, stability, and resources he needs to focus on moving forward.

Sean’s story highlights a bigger issue: by the time young people enter the legal system, they are often already in a crisis. They need supportive services right away – housing, health, education, etc. In fact, if those services were put into place already, they likely wouldn’t have been arrested in the first place.