THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, May 30, 1996 TAG: 9605290205
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Opinion
LENGTH: 82 lines
These remarks were presented by Commonwealth's Attorney C. Phillips Ferguson, keynote speaker at the first Walk to the Wharf, May 19. The event, sponsored by the Suffolk Substance Abuse and Youth Council, promoted community awareness and concern about crime, violence and substance abuse.
This is the first step in a series of steps to do something about crime and violence.
I have been Commonwealth's Attorney for the City of Suffolk for 18 1/2 years and was an assistant Commonwealth's Attorney for 3 1/2 years prior to that.
During the past several years, there has been a rise in the incidence of juvenile crime - especially violent juvenile crime. The rise in juvenile crime is just beginning. The number of juveniles of crime-prone years - 15 to 24 years old - is expected to rise substantially in the coming decade because of the echo boom - the children of baby boomers.
The experts tell us there will be a significant increase in juvenile crime. Why has this occurred? Today, we see more homes without fathers, dysfunctional families, effects of violence on television, and the loss of traditional values.
What can we do about this?
Tougher laws. The General Assembly has passed tougher laws dealing with juveniles. More juvenile detention facilities will be built. Easier transfer proceedings for trials as an adult. No parole laws, and having the ability to use juvenile convictions in adult sentencing proceedings.
Prevention. Suffolk Crime Free Schools program was instituted by the Suffolk Commonwealth's Attorney's office. It includes the following:
Education. We are bringing middle schoolers into Circuit Court to view real cases and see the results of criminal misconduct.
Legal assistance. Further, this office is offering legal assistance to school personnel.
Prosecution. All criminal offenses that occur at school or on school property are now prosecuted by this office.
We must teach values that build the whole person positively rather than drugs and alcohol which can destroy our young people.
We must begin training and working with our young people to develop well-rounded individuals who will be positive assets to our community. We must develop our young people mentally, physically, emotionally, socially, economically and spiritually. In so doing, we instill our young people with strength and courage.
We must teach our young people things like leadership skills, good manners and etiquette, money management and finance, health and safety, and teamwork.
I have some challenges today for both the young people and the adults. I hope you take these challenges and move forward and that the 50 to 75 people here today perhaps next year will be 150. And the year after that, 300.
I challenge the young people to:
1) Learn all you can.
2) Have a positive can-do attitude.
3) Put forth your best effort in school and at whatever you do.
4) Be self-disciplined and responsible in your actions.
5) Show respect for others you come in contact with, including both adults and your peers.
6) Have good manners and etiquette.
7) Say ``no'' to drugs in your words, your actions, and in choosing your friends.
To the adults, I issue these challenges:
1) Teach good values to your children both in words and by your actions. Be a good role model.
2) Give your time to your children. If you don't spend positive time with them, then bad influences will.
3) Give your time to others by volunteering and being active in your community and church. Give of yourselves to your community and give to other young people who may not be getting the right influences.
4) Work in a spirit of cooperation with others in your community to foster a spirit of pride within the community. This will help enormously in ridding crime and other bad influences from your neighborhood.
The reduction of crime does not start from government down, rather it must come from the people in the communities and go up.
I am convinced that if we all work together in a spirit of cooperation - that is, government, schools, business, churches, civic groups, adults and young people - then Suffolk will be the very best city that it can be. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Ferguson by CNB