THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 26, 1995 TAG: 9505260037
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E11 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: TEENSPEAK
SOURCE: BY JON GLASS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 60 lines
AS VIRGINIA OFFICIALS ponder how to reduce juvenile crime and violence, they should consider going to the source for some answers.
When Teenspeak visited Maury High School this week, students had plenty of ideas on how to reform the state's juvenile justice system. The seven juniors and seniors agreed that most juvenile offenders get off too easy and said that punishment needs to be more severe. But they also want more family involvement and other programs to provide role models and activities for youth.
``If a 15-year-old kills somebody, they should know that's wrong,'' said senior Kara Couch, 17. ``There needs to be a crackdown. They think, `We're juveniles, you can't touch us.' I think that's one reason for an increase in teenage violence - they're tired of being treated like kids. I think they're just looking for attention; it's a cry for help.''
The students were divided on how harsh punishment should be. The tricky part is to make it stiff enough to discourage criminal behavior while providing a cushion so that a youthful mistake doesn't ruin a person for life.
Senior Daniel Battle, 17, said: ``There shouldn't be any second steps. There shouldn't be this `Oh, this is your first time, we're going to let you off.' ''
Junior Nequita Dowling, 17, countered: ``There's so many people in jails and they're so overcrowded that it's hard to manage the system. You keep building more jails and pushing more people in jail; it's time to do something else.''
Junior Joannie Holt, 17, called for more alternative education programs, such as the quasi-military school opened this year at Camp Pendleton for high school dropouts and problem kids. Holt said a few teenagers she knows attended the school, which was funded by a U.S. Defense Department grant.
``I've totally noticed a change,'' Joannie said. ``I think those kinds of programs do help. There needs to be a positive side of reform to help, rather than punish, punish, punish.''
Some high school groups, such as Key Clubs, have adopted elementary schools and work with ``at-risk'' kids, senior Christopher Cobb, 18, said. More are needed.
``It gives those kids somebody to look up to, a friend, a role model, and I think that could reduce youth crime and violence later,'' he said. ``When you find something to care about, I would say your chances of getting into trouble decrease.''
To be effective, juvenile reform also must address parental responsibility, students said. Parents who refuse to control their kids' behavior should be punished along with the child, they said. Perhaps parents should perform community service.
For kids who lack caring parents, mentor programs or some other support system should be created to take up the slack, said senior Todd Davidson, 17.
``Punishment should be stiffened, but I also feel the family structure should be emphasized more,'' he said. ``That's where you get your values.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photos by CNB