New Initiative for Juvenile Offenders

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Mayor A C Wharton said juvenile offenders need more than a trip to the detention center to turn their lives around. He announced a new Memphis police initiative that offers more than incarceration.

If it does indeed "take a village to raise a child", then how many law enforcement, religious and governmental administrators does it take to keep troublesome kids out of Shelby County Juvenile Court detention? Memphis Mayor A.C.Wharton is pushing a new intiative to find an effective answer.

"Alternatives other than transporting them by way of an arrest to Juvenile Court. Now keep in mind they will still have to deal with the offense," said Wharton.

Wharton presided over a star-studded assemblage outside the downtown facility on Monday to announce changes to Memphis Police Department policy in regards to issuing juvenile summonses, in seven areas of misdemeanor offenses, rather than carting off youthful offenders directly to the detention center.

Police Director, Larry Godwin, listed those crimes which would warrant such a "preferred response" from officers.

"Disorderly conduct. Simple assault. Criminal tresspass. Simple possession of marijuana," said Godwin. "The gambling. Theft of property or vandalism under $500."

The policy change isn't some nod toward leniency for youthful offenders as it is more a pragmatic approach to the rise in juvenile crime and having financial resources to deal administratively with the crunch drying up. Juvenile Court Judge, Curtis Person, noted 2009 statistics that would seem to bolster Wharton's call for change.

"The DAT, the detention tool or detention hearing the next day, we only detained 10 % of the 7,532 children who were transported by law enforcement," said Person.

There's also real numbers support of the plan derived from it's "low-key" implementation over the last three months.Through the month of June, there have been 58.3% of summonses issued versus 41.4% of transports. What that said is the program does work.

Another aspect of the program will be the participation of faith-based leaders following up to make sure young offenders receiving the summons will show up for their court hearings, if their parents fail to take responsibility