Commit a violent crime, get incarcerated, get measured for a tuxedo and go to the presidential inauguration. Not a bad deal if you’re a punk doing time for beating up and elderly lady in her home.

Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell reports that among the guests at Barack Obama’s inauguration may be three boys from Los Angeles County who broke into a house and beat up the old lady inside. The perps are inmates at Camp Afflerbaugh in LaVerne, Calif., a program for juvenile offenders that aims “to reunify the minor and family, to reintegrate the minor into the community and to assist the minor in achieving a productive, crime free life.”

“The juveniles committed a violent crime,” a correctional officer told Mitchell. “What we are doing is rewarding bad behavior.”

Another employee with the facility claimed that on Thursday, the minors were taken to be measured for tuxedos and that a judge has approved the trip.

“I can’t believe that they would do that for three criminals who assaulted an old lady in her home,” he said.

Using the “hope” and “change” theme of Obama’s campaign, some feel this is a part of constructive rehabilitation.

“The general idea of sending at-risk youth for them to have an opportunity to be part of this historic occasion of Obama’s inaugural is, of course, a fantastic one,” noted Susan Dvorak McMahon, an associate professor in DePaul University’s Department of Psychology.

We wonder if the professor contacted the victim to get a second opinion or to find out if she was also invited to the inauguration.

“I wouldn’t necessarily want to reward kids who have committed a crime,” Professor McMahon said. “But there are a lot of kids who are at risk who could benefit from this. There are lots of kids to choose from.”

The District of Columbia is considering keeping bars open 24 hours a day for several days before and after inauguration day. This circus might fit well with other planned events during the inauguration festivities. Indeed!