For many reasons, I was disappointed to see your commentary about University of Michigan's recruitment of Demar Dorsey. For the past five years, I have worked as a lawyer representing the interests of youth. I believe that your commentary indicates a fundamental misunderstanding of the juvenile justice system. Since its creation, the juvenile justice system sought to rehabilitate youth who made impulsive, reckless, and often foolish decisions. Acknowledging the diminished culpability of youth, the law in every state seeks to approach youth crime very differently from adult crime. Youth have the opportunity to be diverted out of the juvenile justice system - as Demar Dorsey was in his first case. This means that a district attorney makes a decision to keep the youth out of the system pursuant to certain conditions and involvement in programming. It avoids the stigma of a juvenile record and ensures the juvenile opportunities that otherwise could have been foreclosed. Secondly, juveniles in almost every state have the opportunity to clear or expunge their records because it is universally accepted that kids deserve second chances. I find it hard to believe that you are the same person, with the same level of understanding and thoughtfulness about decision-making that you were at age 16. The law recognizes this and affords opportunities to youth who make foolish, and sometimes criminal decisions. Involvement in the juvenile justice system is not a small thing -- a record can impede the juvenile's ability to get into college, get a job and enlist and enlist in the military. By diverting Demar Dorsey's case out of the system, the district attorney sought to ensure that these issues wouldn't arise for him and that he could become a productive member of the adult society. This is what Demar Dorsey has chosen to do. His "record" would still make him eligible to enlist in the military and defend our country. Why shouldn't he be eligible to play football with the Wolverines? As an graduate of University of Michigan, I am proud to see that my alma mater accepts individuals who are seeking to turn their lives around and acknowledges that all kids deserve the opportunity to show that their youthful indiscretions do not define who they can be as adults. Go Blue!