Stabbing Suspect to Remain in Custody

A 10-year-old is being held at Juvenile Hall in Kearny Mesa

A 10-year-old boy is in custody after stabbing his 12-year-old best friend.

The boy has been in custody since Monday after stabbing his neighbor and best friend.

While the Lakeside boy waits for a court to decide his fate, he is being held at Juvenile Hall in Kearny Mesa.

Because of his age, authorities say his stay won't necessarily be the same as the other kids in custody.

So in this situation things will be slightly different for the boy. Chief Probation officer Mack Jenkins says juveniles are already divided into different units and then classified.

Mainly by age and the reason why they are there. But when someone's really young like this, they put them in a unit with other children the same age and size.

He says the boy will also be heavily monitored. Which basically means making sure he gets up in the morning, cleans his room and gets ready for school.

In the boy's case, Jenkins says the teaching staff may also come and visit him in the unit where he is housed. 

They'll make sure he has homework and then he will be enrolled in an educational program just like all the other kids in custody.

β€œWhile they're there we try to provide them with services to address some of the issues they may have so that when the ultimately leave us they don't come back,” said Jenkins.

In the meantime, the 10-year-old is undergoing a mental health evaluation.

Which is standard for every child taken into custody. They use what is called the "Maysi" which is a test to assess their emotional well being.

Then if needed, they will bring in a team of clinicians to help out.
 

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