The Charlotte Observer published an article today highlighting the increase in juvenile armed robberies. According to the article, "Nearly 1 in 3 people accused of robbery in Charlotte last year weren't old enough to vote." The robbery suspects range from high school dropouts to straight 'A' students to athletes.
Last year, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police arrested 168 teens between the ages 13-17 on robbery charges. Police say arrests in this age group have increased 34% from 2005.
Some of the things these young criminals say to the police are outrageous: "I don't think most kids understand the consequences of what they are doing," Sgt. Kevin Barbee told the Observer. "We've had kids tell us, `All I did was rob them.' To me, that speaks volumes."
Charlotte is not the only city in the US facing the problem of juvenile crime. Cities in Florida, Louisiana, and South Carolina are experiencing the same upward trend of kids committing crimes. However, in other cities like Spartenburg, youth crime has decreased.
I believe there is hope if we find the right solutions. One thing I think we need to do is hold parents accountable. I know some kids are brought up in the best of households and end up in trouble. On the other hand, I believe many parents of youth offenders do not care. Often, the parents are criminals themselves or don't have the time or desire to set a good example.
Another parenting problem I've heard about from police officers, teachers and others is how parents have their head in the sand about their child's bad behavior. You know, "Not my child..." Any of the above behavior does not help any child become an asset to society.
Teenagers have two choices: They can live a high-risk life of crime or they can get an education or get a job and take responsibility for their actions. It is a parent or guardian's responsibility to do the best they can to steer their children in the right direction. If the parent is as irresponsible as the child, they should be help accountable.
