Two young boys who admitted stoning and then hanging a 4-month-old
kitten are too young to be charged with a crime and will instead be
sent through a diversion program, authorities say.

Arizona State University associate Professor Christina Risley-Curtiss
has worked with children who abuse animals and has been asked by the
Maricopa County Sheriff's Office to help counsel the boys, ages 6 and
7, through ASU's new Children and Animals Together Assessment and
Diversion program, which specializes in treating children 6 to 17
years old who abuse animals.

"Our issue is to get them young," said Risley-Curtiss, the program's
founder. "Research does show this kind of activity is a marker. What
it says is these kids are troubled and they need help."

--
full story:
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/12/09/20081209mr-kitten1210.html