Copyright May, 2011 - Amelia Island Association Made with Xara Web Designer Phil Scanlon VIEWPOINT/Youth delinquency problems in Nassau By Phillip Scanlan/Amelia Island Association (AIA) The Jacksonville Community Council, Inc. (JCCI) 2010 Quality of Life report showed that Nassau County's adjudicated (court decision) juvenile delinquents at 6.4/1,000 youths in 2009 was higher than Northeast Florida at 4.7/1000, and higher than Duval County at 5.7/1000. Nassau's adjudicated delinquency rate was more than three times higher than St. Johns at 2.0/1000, and St. Johns has similar demographics to Nassau. JCCI also reported Nassau had the highest adjudicated delinquency rate in the five-county Northeast Region for four straight years, 2005-9. JCCI's source is the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice. The major reason for court-ordered delinquency is the need to treat the juvenile in a residence facility for serious mental health or drug abuse problems. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) crime report website reported 294 (about 3 percent) Nassau juvenile "arrests" in 2009, which is about 5-6 per week. It seems about one per week ended up with a court decision, making them an adjudicated delinquent that is committed for detention and treatment. The 2010 Florida Department of Children & Families (DCF) survey of Nassau middle and high school students reported the following delinquent "behaviors" within the prior 12 months.                                                Delinquent behavior percentage                                           2006       2008       2010       2006 to 2010 Being drunk in school                 11%        9%         11%           0% points Attacking with intent to harm       13           7              8               -5 Selling drugs                                   4            4              5              +1 Carrying handgun                          5           4               5                0 Being arrested                                 5           2               3               -2 Attempt to steal a vehicle                2           1               2                0 A comparison of the 2010 DCF Nassau student survey of delinquent "behavior" with that of St. Johns and Duval counties, as well as the Florida average, shows that Nassau results were actually about the same as St. Johns and better than both Duval and the Florida average.                                              Delinquent behavior percentage                                           Nassau       St. Johns       Duval       State Being drunk in school                  11%           11%               15%       13% Attacking with intent to harm           8                8                    17          11 Selling drugs                                      5                6                      8            6 Carrying Handgun                          5                4                      7            5 Being arrested                                   3                3                      8            5   Attempt to steal a vehicle               2                2                      3            2 It appears all the Northeast Florida counties do have a serious delinquency problem. The Nassau delinquency "behavior" and "arrest" rates reported in the 2010 DCF survey in Nassau are similar to St. Johns and lower than Duval. Travis Hirschi, an American criminologist, has done research that found the following reduces delinquency: 1. Strong attachment to parents. 2. A good education and not using alcohol or drugs. 3. Heavy involvement in schoolwork, club activities, sports, music, arts, etc. 4. Good relationships with other people. Strong social bonds prevent delinquency because the juvenile wants to avoid delinquency to avoid disappointing people they have good relationships with. The more strong bonds the juvenile has the better. Groups that can strengthen social bonds include: family, school, peers, religious institutions and community organizations. What can we do? In the past 25 years we have evolved into the majority of parents being single parents or two working parents, which leaves less time for raising children. Parents can check the resource list in the sidebar to this article for help in dealing with a difficult juvenile. There are also resources that can be found on the Internet if you search for "Parent   Help." Some of these will point out the importance of using consequence management appropriately in the home, which can avoid arguments, and when used appropriately over an extended period it can correct misbehaviors. Perhaps grandparents or other family members can help when a child begins to exhibit anti- social behaviors. There are also many community groups that are available and anxious to help, however it is up to the juvenile and parents to make use of them when needed. Schools/teachers can recognize juveniles that may need help and arrange for the appropriate help, with the required permission from parents. Sutton Place provides a counselor in each of Nassau County's seven middle and high schools to help students who are having problems. The vast majority of students do not have delinquent behaviors and they can be a significant help by making an extra effort to include a student that might otherwise be left out of peer groups and activities. Also, student groups can be a good influence in helping to resist drugs, alcohol and delinquency. In many communities church-related youth groups are effective in helping prevent delinquency problems. Here in Nassau one church group has been pointed out as making a difference, the Journey Church on Sadler Road. Student Pastor  Becky DeBerry has a service on Wednesday evenings for juveniles that has attracted up to 350 youths. (869 Sadler Road, Fernandina Beach, 261-8310, ext. 108) Other churches also have youth programs and with over 70 churches, just in Fernandina Beach and Yulee, Nassau County churches could make a real difference. Nassau County has several wonderful non-profit organizations that work to help our youth, (see sidebar). For example, the Boys & Girls Clubs, which have two clubs here in Nassau, has a daily routine called Power-Hour to help with homework; last semester 40 percent of club members made the honor roll (all A's and B's). Other programs at the Boys & Girls Clubs include arts, music, computer lab and athletics. For juveniles who need counseling Sutton Place provides the opportunity for students to meet with counselors in the Middle and  High schools, at their office in Yulee, or through a new in- home program that is just beginning. The services listed in the sidebar are the primary services; other services offered can be seen on the respective websites, or explained over the phone. Nonprofit organizations' services are limited by the amount of volunteers available and the donations they receive. One way our community can help address the significant youth delinquent problem we have is to increase support for these nonprofit organizations with our volunteer time, or financial support. It is a way, for those who are able, to make a difference for our youth. If you have already given, please consider giving a bit more this year, if you can do so. Phillip Scanlan is an Amelia Island Association (AIA) director. AIA's goal is to help improve the quality of life on Amelia Island. Several government and nonprofit leaders have contributed information to help in development of this Viewpoint. Resources Non-profit youth organizations serving Nassau and their primary services provided: ~~ Nassau Alcohol Crime & Drug Abatement Coalition: Reduction of drug, tobacco and alcohol use by youth, 261-5714, www.nacdac.org. ~~ Barnabas Center: Food, clothing and financial assistance to needy families, 321-2334, www.barnabascenterinc.org. ~~ Big Brothers and Big Sisters: One-on-one mentoring, 261-9500 www.bbbsnefl.org. ~~ Boys and Girls Club: Homework help, PC classes, arts, sports, 261-1075, www.bgcnassau.org. ~~ Communities in Schools: Tutoring at middle and high schools, mentoring and career coaching, 321-2000, www.cisnassau.org. ~~ Family Support Services of North Florida, Inc.: Child Protection Services, foster care, adoption and preventive services, 225-5347, www.fssjax.org. ~~ Florida Community Prevention Center, Inc.: Services for HIV/AIDS, substance abuse, community re-entry from prison, (866) 366-8990, www.floridacommunityprevention.com. ~~ Guardian Ad Litem: Court volunteers represent innocent children, (904) 630-1200, www.guardianadlitem.org. ~~ Sutton Place Behavioral Health: Preventive services, mental health, and addiction services, 225-8280, ext. 448, www.spbh.org. ~~ Take Stock in Children: Mentors and scholarships, 548-4464, www.takestockinchildren.org. ~~ TLC Pregnancy Center: Free pregnancy test, 321-2008. Government youth organizations serving Nassau and their primary services provided: ~~ Florida Department of Children & Families: Economic assistance, food stamps, foster parents, adoptions, (866) 762-2237, www.dcf.state.fl.us. ~~ Health Department: Health and safety of all residents, tobacco prevention programs, 548- 1800, www.nassaucountyhealth.org. ~~ Florida Department of Justice Juvenile: Delinquency prevention, detention and probation, 548-9318, www.djj.state.fl.us. ~~ Nassau County Teen Court: First time misdemeanor offense, volunteer peer group jury trial, 548-4611, www.nassauclerk.com. ~~ State Attorneys Youthful Offender Programs: Truancy, At-Risk, Outreach, Arbitration, 548- 4700, www.sao4th.com/alternatives.php. For-profit youth organization serving Nassau: ~~ The Parent Help Center: Education for parents on managing a juvenile, support groups, teen camps, www.theparenthelpcenter.com.