Juvenile ConvictionsDown Last Year according to Dept of Social Services
Increased examples of parental support coupledalong with stepped up efforts by law enforcement and social oganisationshave contributed to a drop in juvenile offences to 115 convictionslast year compared to 122 in 1999.
Juvenile and Youth Court figures releasedby the Department of Social Services show that the crimes committedin 2000 ranged from traffic violations, to drug-related offences,burglary, breach of probation, assault and violence.
"We are still seeing a great deal ofparental support, which a few years ago was very much lacking.Offenders would show up in court either alone or with some distantrelative in tow. Now, in almost every case, we are seeing at leastone parent and in several cases this parent is the father. Weare also seeing an increased instance of both parents showingup with their children," was the comment of Social WorksSupervisor Ms. Leanora Wynter on what appears to be a downwardtrend in juvenile offences.
"In addition, credit must be givento our partners in this work the Juvenile Bureau of theRoyal Cayman Islands Police, the Courts and the schools. Througheducation and intervention, they are doing much towards preventingcrimes before they occur," she added.
Ms Wynter also said that the age range of the law-breaking youngstershas decreased:"In 1999 we saw youths ranging from 12 to 19years while last year the youngest offender was 13, while theoldest was 17. However, most cases involved males in the 15 to16 age group, which remains fairly constant from year to year."
Ms. Wynter said that in 2000, five juvenileswere charged with crimes serious enough to warrant Grand Courttrials.
Forty-one young people, five of whom weregirls, received first-time (?) convictions last year. The majorityof them came from George Town and West Bay, with six from BoddenTown, one from East End and none from North Side, Cayman Bracor Little Cayman.
Traffic crimes make up the bulk of theseconvictions, followed by drug-related offences. Although the numberof instances in both of these categories is up from last year,burglary and theft are down significantly.
All sentences were handed down by justicesof the peace (JPs) in Youth Court, which meets each Friday. Judgementincluded fines, probation, community service and suspended sentences.
"The JPs are bound to follow Cayman'sLaws with regards to sentencing of young persons. It is hopedthat an alternative to the existing facilities i.e. lock-ups willbe established to accommodate young persons who are held on remand,"explained Ms Wynter The majority of the year 2000 incidents ofjuvenile law-breaking had to do with traffic offences involvingbicycles and driving without owner's consent. This area numbered50, while in 1999 the figure was 47. The second highest offenceslast year, breach of probation and or rehabilitation order andor bail, however numbered four fewer than 1999 when the figurestood at 23. There were 10 cases possession of marijuana in 2000and half that figure in the previous year.