West Australian magistrate Deen Potter has suggested an Aboriginal boy use US rapper 50 Cent as a role model to avoid a potential life of crime. The 16 year old boy was charged with 49 burglary charges. He pleaded guilty to 14 burglary charges and was sentenced to a six-month intensive supervision order and 40 hours of community service. Mr Potter did not sentence the boy for the remaining 35 charges, leaving it to his parents to punish him appropriately.
Deen Potter said, “like you he (50 Cent) came from the most tragic, traumatic circumstances but he was able to rise above them. A lot of people don’t have the personal strength to go beyond their circumstances.Ā But for the most part you’ve been able to rise above it. Ā As a young Aboriginal man, if you end up in that system, your chances of turning your life around will only grow slimmer. In 10 years I want to look you up and see your successes.”
Indigenous people represent about 3% of Australia’s population but have imprisonment rates around 12 times higher than the rest of the country.
50 Cent (real name Curtis Jackson) shot to fame from a life of crime, drugs and violence.
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