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Juvenile Arrests Have Actually Gone Down in DC During the Summer Months
Posted by DCLY on Thursday, May 26, 2011 at 9:31amDespite the public presumption that crime goes up when kids are no longer sitting behind desks and are out on the streets during summer vacation, data from the Washington Metropolitan Police Department shows that youth are arrested less frequently during summer months when compared to the rest of the year, according to a new brief published today by DC Lawyers for Youth (DCLY).
The brief, “Debunking Urban Legends: Summer Heat, Vacation Don’t Lead to More Youth Arrests,” found that since 2007, there has been no relation to an increase in juvenile arrests during summer months (June, July and August). The report takes a look at seasonal and annual weekly averages of juvenile arrests and the seasonal average of juvenile arrests for violent offenses from 2007 to 2010. According to the brief, juvenile arrests during specific weeks of summer have been lower than the rest of the year since 2007. In 2009 and 2010, weekly arrests of juveniles were more than 8% lower during academic year weeks.
DCLY’s analysis reports that summer arrests were lower than the yearly weekly average in 2008 and 2009. The report also found that the only substantial seasonal spikes in juvenile arrests since 2007 occurred in the fall months of 2008 and 2009, and during the spring months of 2007, 2009 and 2010.
Juvenile arrests for violent offenses have also decreased over summer months, decreasing from spring to summer over the past four years. Furthermore, summer arrests accounted for the lower than the yearly average in the two of the four years studies (2007 and 2008).
Read the full report here: Debunking Urban Legends: Summer Heat, Vacation Don’t Lead to More Youth Arrests.
Juvenile Arrests in DC Actually Down 1.9%
Posted by DCLY on Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at 10:35amAn article in yesterday's Washington Examiner incorrectly claimed that recent data from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) demonstrates that "juvenile arrests have skyrocketed this year...." A more careful and responsible consideration of the data makes clear that oversights were made in the Examiner’s analysis and that the increases described in the article do not equate with a spike in youth violence, but rather are due to a more proper characterization of juvenile arrests by MPD.
- Total Juvenile Arrests Are Down: Despite the Examiner's claims, MPD data demonstrates that arrests of juveniles between January 1 and May 7 decreased by 1.9 percent in 2011 as compared to the same time period in 2010.
- MPD’s Appropriate Categorization of Arrests May Account for Perceived Increases: The chart in the Examiner article gave the impression that youth arrests had increased by 438 total in 2011 as a result in substantial increases over a wide range of offenses. However, the article completely failed to mention the parallel (and greater) stark decrease of 470 arrests in the categories of “Other Felonies” and “Other Misdemeanors.” The drop in arrests in these latter two categories more than accounts for the increase in the categories listed by the Examiner for its article. MPD should be applauded for its recent effort to more accurately categorize juvenile arrests in lieu of counting those arrests in the “other” felonies/misdemeanors categories. However, such proper categorization of arrests does not mean that youth crime is increasing.
- Arrests for Homicide and Aggravated Assault are flat and down: The Examiner article also claims that juvenile arrests for Homicide, Rape, and Aggravated Assault “has risen 10 percent this year compared with last year.” However, arrests for homicides remained flat, and arrests for aggravated assaults fell by 9.5 percent in 2011. Thus, of these three categories of violent offenses isolated by the Examiner, the only category to increase according to the Examiner’s own chart is Rape/Sexual Abuse. However, again, it highly possible that this increase in arrests for Rape is the result of MPD more accurately categorizing arrests.
For more information, see DCLY's Fact Sheet Examining the Examiner: The Real Facts about Juvenile Arrests in D.C. based on data from MPD's CJIS Report (January 1 to May 7, 2011). If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Eduardo Ferrer via email at eferrer@dcly.org.
Meet Chynna Deaner - DCLY April 2011 Young Achiever
Posted by DCLY on Friday, May 13, 2011 at 9:05amDC Lawyers for Youth is proud to honor Chynna Deaner as its April 2011 Young Achiever. While Chynna’s academic record is outstanding, it is her service to others that is truly remarkable. At only 15 years old she is already a mentor and a tutor blazing a trail for others to reach their own personal success.
Chynna, a 9th grade student at Hyde Leadership Public Charter School and Deanwood resident, is a tutor with Reach Incorporated. Reach improves literacy skills, across ages, by hiring and training adolescents to tutor in DC elementary schools. Two days each week, Chynna receives training to provide instruction in the five core components of literacy development: fluency, phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, and text comprehension. On two alternating days, Chynna works with Taylor, an energetic second grade student.
Chynna pushes Taylor to give her best. Though Taylor, like many young learners, can get distracted at times, Chynna continually pushes Taylor to do more. Together, they work on journal entries, read stories, and complete book reports. Chynna finds creative ways to motivate Taylor each day. With Chynna’s continued hard work, both she and Taylor will continue to thrive.
While Chynna’s performance in Reach’s after-school program is impressive, she handles her in-class responsibilities with equal devotion. In addition to her nearly perfect attendance, Chynna is an honor roll student currently carrying a grade point average of 3.43. Her well-developed social skills and impressive record of achievement predict success in her efforts to become a forensic scientist. To view the full video of Chynna Deaner’s interview with DC Lawyers for Youth, CLICK HERE.
Know a Young Achiever in DC? Then let us know about the young person in your community who is making a difference. Visit us at http://www.dcly.org/our-work-initiatives/young-achievers.
Why dont we talk more about the 99% of DC Youth who did not get arrested for a violent offense in 2010?
Posted by DCLY on Friday, March 18, 2011 at 10:57amSince 2007, there has been a 21 percent decline in juvenile arrests for Part I offenses in the District and total arrests are also on the downswing for DC young people. Despite the harmful rhetoric surrounding juvenile crime in the District, young people make up a proportionately low number of arrests. Citing these trends, R. Daniel Okonkwo, Executive Director of DC Lawyers for Youth, will testify today before the District of Columbia City Council Committee on the Judiciary during a Public Oversight Hearing on the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
“In the interest of maintaining public safety, supporting communities, and improving life outcomes for District youth, it is crucial that policies and strategies developed by the Executive Branch and the City Council are in line with the data,” said Okonkwo. “Juvenile arrests are on the decline in DC and we should use this opportunity to shore up these gains with smart investments in front-end services and supports for young people that prevent youth from coming into contact with the police and courts in the first place.”
Comparison of Juvenile, Young Adult, and Adult Arrests in the District of Columbia (2010), the second in a series of issues briefs analyzing data pertaining to juvenile crime in the District of Columbia, was released today from DCLY. The brief series notes that young adult and adult arrests far outnumber those of juveniles and that juvenile arrests are trending downward in nearly every offense category. “We have to keep in mind that almost 99% of District youth were not arrested last year for a violent offense. In addition, juvenile arrests for violent crimes are either down or holding steady across the board, with robberies standing out as the only sub-category on the rise,” added Okonkwo. “While it is concerning that robbery arrests increased, effective strategies should hone in on the root causes of this increase and should not include sweeping generalizations vilifying young people; it is the obligation of the city government, advocates and communities to create an environment where young people are able to become and be seen as productive citizens.”
Click to read Mr. Okonkwo’s testimony and the full brief Comparison of Juvenile, Young Adult, and Adult Arrests in the District of Columbia (2010), released today by DC Lawyers for Youth. To read DCLY’s first brief, click here. For additional information, please contact R. Daniel Okonkwo [office: 202.386.7104, cell: 202.630.0466, email: dokonkwo@dcly.org] or contact Jason Fenster [office: 202.558.7974 x306, cell: 202.656.5336]. For more information about DC Lawyers for Youth, visit www.dcly.org.
The mission of DC Lawyers for Youth (DCLY) is to improve the Washington DC juvenile justice system by advocating for reforms that promote positive youth development, effective legal representation, and the positive reintegration of court-involved youth.
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Meet Patrice Haney - DCLY February 2011 Young Achiever
Posted by DCLY on Monday, February 28, 2011 at 2:42pm
DC Lawyers for Youth is honored to recognize Patrice Haney as its February 2011 DCLY Young Achiever. Patrice Haney is a remarkable young woman who has left her mark on Anacostia Senior High School where she thrives both inside and outside the classroom. Through an incredible work ethic that other students are inspired to emulate, Patrice has earned a 4.1 grade point average and the number one ranking in her class. In addition, Patrice excels at every women’s sport offered at Anacostia Senior High School with the exception of tennis and golf. She is also on the cheer squad and a member of the Anacostia Student Government Association. A native Washingtonian, Patrice will be leaving the District in the fall to attend college with the goal of majoring in accounting or computer engineering.
Patrice is proud to be a DCLY Young Achiever. She attributes her success thus far to her supportive family and the wonderful staff at Anacostia Senior High School. Patrice believes that adults, especially parents, need to be more supportive of young people and believes that adults need to get more involved in the lives of young people. Patrice also offers the following advice to her peers: “Work hard and then play later because in order to become successful, you need an education. I take education real serious and I think they should take it serious too. At the end of the day, the only thing you have to fall back on is your education, not anything else but your education. So I say work hard, and then play later.” Click to view the full video of DCLY's Interview with Patrice Haney.
Know a Young Achiever or a Rising Star in DC? Then let us know about the young person in your community who is making a difference.
