NORFOLK
Three summers ago, teens were wreaking havoc in the Tanner's Creek East neighborhood, gathering in large groups in the street, fighting and breaking into cars and homes.
So the community teamed up with police and parents to put a stop to it, according to Valerie Vatts, a resident. Conditions have improved, but there's still work to be done, she said.
Vatts and her sister attended a forum Saturday morning aimed at educating city residents about minority youths in the criminal justice system. The panel at Norview High School featured representatives from the Police Department, the court system, churches and schools.
They agreed: A disproportionate number of minority youths end up in Norfolk's criminal justice system. The question, they say, is why, and how to reverse the trend.
Roughly half of the Norfolk teen population is black, according to statistics provided at the forum. But they account for 81 percent of juvenile arrests and 86 percent of the juveniles in correctional centers or on parole.
Fixing that disparity will take a communitywide effort, the panelists said. Parents have to be involved in the lives of their children, said Circuit Court Judge Jerrauld C. Jones. Schools have to expand early childhood education and close the achievement gap, said Michael Spencer, Norfolk public schools' chief of operations. And the court system needs to look at ways to help rehabilitate teens who end up committing crimes, said Commonwealth's Attorney Greg Underwood.
"The problem with youth is an adult problem, and we hold the key to it," Spencer said. "Education is the key and the great leveler."
Churches can also help by offering programs for teens after school and on weekends, said the Rev. Kirk Houston Sr., pastor of Gethsemane Community Fellowship Baptist Church.
Saturday's forum was the second in an ongoing series hosted by the city, Norfolk State University, the Institute for Community Justice at Old Dominion University and the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative. The goal is to engage the community, educate residents and find solutions.
The forum is a good start, Vatts said. "We want to see what we can do to help alleviate some of the problems that we have."
Kathy Adams, (757) 222-5155, kathy.adams@pilotonline.com
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Juvenile Justice
Being a retired police officer as well as presently being employed as a high school teacher, I have two perspectives. There is no doubt that the lack of parental involvement in all but a very few cases is the root of the problem. In addition while I have no problem with a youth being offered some type of rehabilitative services after a first offense (depending on the severity of the crime of course). But after that the courts are there to dispense justice. As politics go-so go the the prosecuting attorney positions and judgeships. That is pretty much what has occurred in Norfolk to be specific. While there still some very good and fair judges in Norfolk, there are several that tend lean to the left more often than not. Many are looking for alternatives for youths that adults hope will curtail and divert youths from getting into trouble, getting involved in crime and/or getting injured or killed from street violence. I have personally seen the results of that scenario over and over. The first and best alternative is to keep the youth off of the streets in the first place. That is a parental responsibility and no one elses. Second is for adults in schools, communities and churches to
Parent & Justice Problem
“The problem with youth is an adult problem and we hold the key to it,” Spencer said. “Education is the key and the great leveller.”
Spencer it's a parental problem. Education can not take hold until it is seen as the great "leveller" by the PARENT in the home.
"And the court system needs to look at ways to help rehabilitate teens who end up committing crimes, said Commonwealth’s Attorney Greg Underwood."
I voted for you Greg but your off to the left on this one. I think you just bought yourself an election issue.
The court system dispenses JUSTICE, not rehabilitation.
life's lessons
Life's lessons begin at home, and until the day parents are held accountable for their juvenile kids nothing will be resolved.