Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 29, 1995 TAG: 9506290083
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium
Hunter Hurst, director of the National Center for Juvenile Justice, on Tuesday told members of a legislative task force studying juvenile justice reform that Virginia recently ranked 36th among states in violent crime, though its population and population density rank it in the top 15.
``You are, in fact, doing pretty well," Hurst said. "You have problems, like every state has problems, but as you deliberate, if I were you I would ask that the first rule be that you do no harm.''
The system of justice has gone wrong and is not achieving results, he said.
``I wouldn't emulate the [adult] criminal system if I were trying to fix the juvenile system,'' Hurst said. For the best return on the dollar, ``it's going to be better if we do reasonable things instead of mindless things.''
Hurst noted the criminal justice system is neither fair nor swift, but is very expensive.
State prosecutors this month urged the Governor's Commission on Juvenile Justice Reform to throw out Virginia's whole juvenile justice system and start from scratch. One of its subcommittees has recommended public safety - not child welfare - be the top priority.
Both the General Assembly's task force, organized by the Virginia Commission on Youth, and the governor's commission are considering major changes in the system for enactment in next year's legislative session.
Hurst, however, said treating juveniles the same as adults ``is the most pessimistic of statements.''
``It is a statement that says that it is not true that young people have the capacity to change,'' he said.
Hurst recommended that punishment for offenders be certain and that the state have the resources and the facilities to back up sentences called for by legislation. He also said the system should be swift.
But, he warned, when punishments are made stiffer and children treated as adults, the stakes become higher and charges are fought more vigorously in court. Ultimately, dispositions are delayed and there are fewer convictions, he said.
He also urged that juvenile offenders be given needed treatment and education as a matter of public safety.
Del. Jerrauld Jones, D-Norfolk, said Virginia's recent enactment of a major revision of serious juvenile offender laws hasn't stopped lawmakers from proposing more changes before the earlier ones have been assessed.
``Why?'' Jones asked. ``Because that's politics. That's politics as usual. Criminal justice, juvenile justice, is always the area where politics comes in very easily.''
by CNB