Youth Crime
Nationally, juvenile crime is a major and serious problem. To involve the community in formulating solutions to the issue of juvenile crime, the Department will establish a standing committee of citizens, police, and other City agencies to address the effect that juvenile crime is having on the City. Juvenile crime occurs more frequently in homes where both parents work or in single-parent households where the parents work at night. This leads to situations where children are left without parental supervision. Because of the increased incidence of child-related crimes and drug activity, Newport News instituted curfews that hold parents accountable for their children.
In 2007, there were 4,034 police contacts with juveniles in Newport News. This is an increase of 75% from 2,308 in 2001. Also, the percent of juveniles (ages 5-17) with police encounters has increased. Police contacts involve status offenses such as runaways, truancy, smoking, drinking, and curfew violations that are not considered offenses for adults.
|
Category |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Police Contacts with juveniles |
2,308 |
2,625 |
2,467 |
2,944 |
3,639 |
4,714 |
4,034 |
|
|
Population Age 5-17 |
35,869 |
36,224 |
36,595 |
36,571 |
36,216 |
35,581 |
36,418 |
|
|
% of juveniles with Police Contact |
6.4% |
7.2% |
6.7% |
8.1% |
10.0% |
13.2% |
11.1% |
|
Even though Newport News has a less severe juvenile crime problem than many other municipalities of similar size, it is strategically positioned to face an ever-increasing problem as a growing urban center. The existing systems within the city will be further strained to provide services as the juvenile population grows. As a result, the City will need to become more cognizant in the coming years of what programs are effective, if it is to adequately meet the challenges associated with juvenile crime. The juvenile justice system and the other services associated with addressing juvenile crimes in Newport News will need to become equipped to keep pace with juvenile crime and juvenile violence. Because most juvenile crime occurs between 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., initiatives are recommended to provide youth with healthy activities in adult directed environments after school. Alternative activities include boy scouts, girl scouts, middle school sports, fine arts and performing arts. These programs help children build their self-esteem.
Similar to most municipalities in the area, Newport News has found itself dealing with the issue of youth participation in gang-related criminal activities. A centralized gang unit exists to work with patrol and other investigators, gathering intelligence, addressing gang graffiti, and developing strategies for addressing gang members. The School Resource Officer Unit has been moved into the General Investigations Section of the Department under the Investigations Bureau, to further facilitate the exchange of information between the public schools and the Department. Additionally, two detectives have been moved to the unit who are dedicated solely to the issue of teenage runaways and missing persons.