When we talk about the arrest rates for our youth in Jacksonville, there is one thing we cannot leave out of the conversation... and that is race. Majority of the students arrested are African American and are more than likely residents of District 4. By admission of the Teen Court Director for Duval County, most children participating in this program and similar ones are kids who live in the suburbs. Arresting kids for first offenses and scarring them for a lifetime is not productive nor is it good for the future of our children or our community. I encourage State Attorney Angela Corey to maintain her willingness to not only sit down and have a conversation but to reach a solution to the growing epidemic of the incarceration of our youth. We cannot arrest our way out of the issues facing our children. I, personally, will advocate for more funding for prevention services. We cannot just fund prevention programs but we have to ensure their accessibility to those who need them most.
Posted on: Fri, 13 Sep 2013 04:16:16 +0000
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