Juvenile delinquency cases up, says DYS

The Division of Youth Services Juvenile Corrections Unit has come across 48 offenses committed by youths aged 12 to 17 during the month of October, a notable increase from the 29 juvenile delinquency cases accumulated in September 2000.

The latest figures brings the total number of DYS delinquency cases to 406, which is only 27 cases less from 1999’s total number of alleged offenses ranging from assault and battery, criminal mischief, attempted suicide, burglary and theft, disturbing the peace, minor consuming alcohol, curfew violation, to illegal possession of controlled substance, possession of tobacco and controlled substance, truancy, and other offenses.

According to DYS Corrections Unit Supervisor Sylvio S. Ada, the steady rise in the island’s juvenile delinquency rate is always something the community should be concerned about.

“It looks like we may surpass last year’s statistics with the rate the figures are going now,” said Mr. Ada.

While others may view this latest finding as negative, Mr. Ada prefers to look at the positive aspect: at least, authorities are preventing the youths from committing more serious crimes.

“In a way, it’s positive because they’re finding it. During the past years, there may have been more cases but they were never caught,” he explained. School administrations, particularly at Hopwood Junior High School, have begun employing more frequent random inspections of backpacks and purses of students which have yielded quite a number of tobacco products, controlled substance, and others.

According to Mr. Ada, majority of the offenses were committed by curfew violators as the Department of Public Safety has stepped up efforts to comb the streets of minors loitering during night time.

“They have been strict lately because as you know when kids stay out longer at night, the probability that they commit crimes is high,” said Mr. Ada.

Juvenile delinquency figures may have gone up this year but DYS reiterated that at least illegal products are being confiscated from the youths and that actions are being done to put a stop to their juvenile acts.

“This way, kids are safer as well as the whole community,” said Mr. Ada.

For the month of October, DYS’ intakes comprised of 10 curfew violators, nine illegal possession of controlled substance, six cases of assault and battery, to name few. Some 15 of the youth offenders were female while the large remaining number composed of males.