NCJ Number
137414
Date Published
1992
Length
28 pages
Annotation
This report is an effort to galvanize schools, churches, businesses, neighborhood groups, and civic organizations in New Orleans to implement several proposals aimed at reducing juvenile violence.
Abstract
Nationally, the pattern of increasing juvenile violence has been documented by the Centers for Disease Control, the Center for Handgun Violence, and the Bureau of Justice Statistics. In New Orleans, reports published by the Coroner's Office, Louisiana State University Medical Center, the Tulane University Gun Study, and the Criminal Sheriff's Juvenile Offender Survey indicate that the problem is widespread in that city. The Orleans Parish Sheriff recommends reducing the number of juveniles murdered and injured by eliminating weapons in schools, implementing "cease fire" campaigns throughout the community, and establishing Student Crime Watch programs. The number of juvenile offenders can be reduced by initiating delinquency prevention programs, developing intervention programs for first offenders and non-violent repeat offenders, and incarcerating chronic and dangerous juvenile offenders. He proposes changing the juvenile justice system by improving the juvenile data system, instituting drug testing at the time of arrest, and creating an intervention volunteer program to work with the juvenile justice system. Problem kids would be kept in the school system through parental involvement, military-type schools, and enhanced community support for schools. 2 appendixes