Issue in Focus

Youth Crime and Violence

Update: Aug. 30, 2010 -

There are five youth empowerment centers in five Palm Beach County ZIP codes with high crime.  On Oct. 1, 2010, funding for these centers in West Palm Beach, Riviera Beach, Boynton Beach, Lake Worth and Belle Glade runs out, and it's likely there will be some closures.  /via Palm Beach Post

Issue Overview

Youth crime harms communities, creates a culture of fear and damages the lives of some of our most vulnerable young people in Palm Beach County. Reducing youth crime and improving the youth justice system is a central part of an effort to build safer communities and to tackle the problem of social exclusion.

What causes youth crime? These are some of the major risk factors that increase the chances of young people committing crimes:

  • troubled home life
  • poor attainment at school, truancy and school exclusion
  • drug or alcohol misuse and mental illness
  • deprivation such as poor housing or homelessness
  • peer group pressure

There are many ways to combat youth crime, and many ways to deal with offenders. One approach ...

...being researched in Palm Beach County is of restorative justice though Neighborhood Accountability Boards. When using restorative justice, offenders are asked to repair the harm they've done - by apologizing, returning stolen money, or doing community service. This is done in place of punishments that are not directly related to the crime - like jail time.

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Organizations Working on this Issue
People Engaged in Active Community Efforts (PEACE)

  P.E.A.C.E. is a congregation-based community organization charged with the mission of effectively fighting injustices ...

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