Car break-ins need thoughtful response

San Francisco car breakins are a problem — a complicated one that neither law enforcement nor politicians have solved. Like economic disparity, homelessness or drug addiction, breakins require thoughtful, informed problem solvers working together. Yet Chronicle columnist Heather Knight’s “Second chances? How about 11?” suggests the court, and one judge in one case, is the problem.

Every day, our judges are tasked with deciding each case that comes before them. Each disposition should be based on individual facts the judge knows best. If we want to live in a free and democratic society, then we must respect the independence of the judiciary.

The criminal justice system works best when knowledgeable people come together to intervene in a cycle of criminal behavior. We’ve learned the hard way that mass incarceration achieves little beyond electing fearmongers and costing taxpayers. When we are able to intervene in a young person’s life, hold them accountable, make them take responsibility and provide a structure to redirect behavior, then we can stop the cycle. That requires skin in the game, thoughtful analysis and the marshaling of resources to accomplish a goal that works for everyone — especially the victims.

Put yourself in the judge’s position — warehouse a youthful offender in state prison for five years, eight months, or put him on a very tight probationary leash that requires carefully monitored good behavior and job training and will guarantee a lengthy sentence if the defendant does not abide by its terms.

So should we send this young man to prison to become a hardened criminal? Only if the motive is blind vengeance. If we are lucky enough to have a judge willing to work hard to invest in our youth, and hold them accountable to make a difference, why are we not supporting that?

Kenneth Wine is the president of the Criminal Trial Lawyers Association of Northern California.