Community Forum on Youth Violence 6/21
Posted in Uncategorized on June 2nd, 2011 by ninjaclectic – Be the first to commentPartnering with both the Latin American Youth Center (@THELAYC) and the
Columbia Heights Shaw Family Support Collaborative, the Northwest Columbia Heights Community Association is holding a community forum on youth violence in DC in a couple weeks.
The idea is to create a community based working group on youth violence…
TOPIC: Community Building – LAYC Listening Session on Youth Violence
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
St Stephen and the Incarnation Episcopal Church
1525 Newton St NW, Washington, DC 20010
Upstairs AuditoriumPlease come and share your views on youth violence when the Latin American Youth Center conducts listening sessions for our community.
This WAPO article discusses some of the changes taking place in youth crime in DC, particularly the shift away from stealing cars to stealing electronics and breaking into houses:
“Stealing cars got too hot,” said a 21-year-old man who as a youth spent time in the former Oak Hill detention center. “You can grab a phone and go.” He spoke on the condition of anonymity, fearing reprisals at his job.
Snatching smartphones has a somewhat similar appeal to stealing a car: The thief can enjoy it for a while, make calls or access Facebook. Then he can sell it on the street for instant cash. On Craigslist, iPhones sell for about $250.
The focus on truancy as a preventative measure is interesting:
One tangible way to cut down on juvenile crime, Lanier said, is to reduce truancy. If youths are in school, they’re not committing crimes, she said. She estimated that 80 percent of the city’s home break-ins by teens happen during school hours.
“Truancy is a gateway crime,” Lanier said. “It leads to gang activity, and it leads to crime. It is a huge, huge contributor to juvenile crime.”