minors who commit crimes with minor who just happen to suffer from mental
illnesses.
In the case of Amalia Pape an odd and dangerous pattern can be seen. The now
16 year old girl was diagnosed with ADHD and ODD. Normally ODD is not a
recognized illness. Most professionals deem this particular diagnose as a kind
of mess meant to put a name on normal teenage behavior.
The girl was living at a group home placed there with the approval by her
family when she was 12 years old. For no particular reason the authorities
suddenly send her home and claimed she was cured. However at it turned out, she
was not. Her family asked for help and the only option the authorities had was
not her old group home but instead a department of "Grenen", which is a maximum
security youth facility in Jutland.
Here the girl would live much like the other youth placed at the facility for
a number of reasons like armed robbery or street gang participation. It doesn't
sound like the right option for treatment of her illness.
But this was the only option the authorities could offer and when her family
denied participating in her placement, the authorities took her by force.
So Amalia Pape is now living in a criminal environment. Her contact with her
family is restricted very much like she was imprisoned. It is a sad turn-out for
a girl and a family reaching out for help. It is an embarrassment for
Denmark.
Source:
16-årig med psykiatrisk lidelse tvangsfjernet og indsat blandt kriminelle (About the case in Danish language from a local newspaper)