NCJ Number
164789
Journal
Juvenile Justice Update Volume: 2 Issue: 6 Dated: (December/January 1997) Pages: 3-4,10
Date Published
1997
Length
3 pages
Annotation
Following an overview of trends in juvenile crime, the author, a prosecutor in Dakota County (Minnesota), suggests ways to control the juvenile crime crisis.
Abstract
Fortunately, nationwide rates of violent juvenile crime decreased slightly in the last year for the first time in almost a decade, and the rate of violent juvenile offenses in the author's jurisdiction increased by only 4 percent in 1995, compared to much larger increases in the previous 2 years. Given the large increase in the number of juveniles anticipated in the United States over the next 15 years, however, the future looks ominous. This article identifies 15 issues that must be addressed if juvenile crime is to be controlled. Policymakers must re- establish the sense of neighborhood and community involvement that no longer exists in many areas of the Nation, and society's institutions must be sure that there are proper levels of supervision for juveniles in their homes, schools, and on the streets. Society's institutions must also ensure that youth develop a sense of morality and guarantee that every child, particularly those in single-parent families, has access to a positive adult role model in the community. Teenage and illegitimate pregnancies must be discouraged, and positive peer role models must be cultivated for youth to defuse the attraction to gangs and gang leaders. Educational services for youth must ensure that children learn the proper social skills and develop a sense of educational commitment and motivation. Further, ways must be found to recognize and address the increased stress levels that youth are experiencing. Other areas that must be addressed are employment and recreational opportunities, consistent discipline, respect for laws and authority, accountability for behavior, violence in the media, and alcohol and drug abuse. The article also discusses law enforcement's response to juvenile crime as well as the community's response.