March 10, 2008 — From the "cradle to the grave," a number of socioeconomic factors propel the territory's youth toward a life of crime, senators said during Monday's all-day Education, Youth and Culture Committee hearing.
Looking at ways to prevent local youth from going astray, a panel of government officials stressed the need for more programs developed between departments and agencies, coupled with stronger laws that hold parents more accountable for their children's actions. Senators called for the government to do more in alleviating some of the financial burdens hitting parents' pocketbooks.
"We have to get over this disconnect between the economy and the people who live here," said Sen. Shawn-Michael Malone. "That means training people so that they can earn more money. Right now, we have unskilled parents working three or four menial jobs to put food on the table. The university also has to start tailoring their programs to retrain adults to be able to do the jobs that are out there."
Providing adequate job training should also extend to the territory's youth, added Arah Lockhart, assistant Labor commissioner. About 400 students drop out of school each year, only to resurface in the criminal-justice system, unemployment lines and social services offices, she said.
"What we have found is that many are basic-skills deficient, with below-average literacy levels and with numerous barriers to leading self-sufficient lives," Lockhart said.
Labor has created a new program called Youthnet, a network of agencies that counsel, mentor, train and rehabilitate at-risk youth between the ages of 16 and 24. The program hinges on three basic components: prevention, recapture and rehabilitation.
"Many of the youth of the territory do not feel like there is a future for them, nor are they aware of the countless opportunities that are available if they are willing to work," Lockhart explained.
A partnership with the local Education Department is also part of the program, and will focus on early-childhood education, Lockhart said. Acting Education Commissioner LaVerne Terry stressed that the most important part of keeping students out of the correctional system is making sure they learn to read at grade level at an earlier age, and making sure schools have adequate resources.
"Education is the point of triangulation," Terry said. "We have to make sure that we're not being redundant with our efforts and with how we're directing our resources."
Some issues are more difficult to deal with, according to Human Services Commissioner Chris Finch: Children subject to abuse, neglect and abandonment are more likely to exhibit violent behavior.
"Despite the declines in overall juvenile delinquency rates over the past several years, the level of crime committed by our nation's youth remains high," Finch said. "Females now make up more than 25 percent of the offenders in the juvenile justice system — more than double their representation 10 years ago. Children of color are disproportionately represented at every point. Juveniles in the system are continuing to experience problems relating to substance abuse, mental-health diagnosis and a lack of educational achievement."
The number of males and females admitted to St. Croix's Youth Rehabilitation Center (YRC) over the past three years has steadily increased. In fiscal year 2007, 254 youths got sent to YRC, 90 percent male and 10 percent female. Average age: 15.
Many were substance abusers, came from single parent households or had committed a violent crime. About 42 percent were repeat offenders.
The center's residents stay for an average of three months, Finch said, forcing YRC staff to push forward quickly with their rehabilitation efforts. While the department is moving ahead with improvements to YRC and several other juvenile prevention and rehabilitation programs, impediments — such as a lack of federal funding — remain, Finch said.
Parents' responsibility to their children is an issue that "continuously needs to be talked about," he said.
"We simply cannot back away from the issue," Finch said. "We have to begin putting expectations and responsibilities on parents and provide the type of assistance those families need to be stronger."
Following and enforcing local laws is also a big component in preventing juvenile delinquency, said Police Commissioner James H. McCall. Local law mandates that parents spend at least two hours a month at their child's school, meeting teachers and parents and checking on the student's progress.
"But how many parents are actually doing that?" he asked senators. "That's something that requires a lot more enforcement."
The discussion on youth crime, prevention, punishment and rehabilitation continues Tuesday with another committee meeting scheduled for 10 a.m. on St. Thomas.
Present during Monday's meeting were Sens. Liston Davis, Louis P. Hill, Malone and Terrence "Positive" Nelson. Sens. Carlton "Ital" Dowe, Neville James and Norman Jn Baptiste were absent.
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