11-26-1984 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

The principal job of municipal government is to protect people and their property. The people, through their property taxes, pay a considerable amount for this protection primarily in the form of police and fire service. For some while, police departments and municipal officials have been frustrated by an apparent leniency of judgements being handed down by our municipal and district courts whereby, after having expended a considerable amount of the public's money and often taking considerable risks, a violator is apprehended and prosecuted in court only to be turned out w th a suspended or light sentence. In some communities youth crime and status offense have become such a major problem that the traditional process is no longer effective;. The courts and probation departments cannot cope with 'L,he magnitude of numbers and, therefore, youthful offenders are more often Burned back with only a reprimand or not even petitioned into the system for the first two or three offenses. The negative effects of this process are twofold; 1) It tends to reinforce the violator's lack of respect for others and their contempt for the law, especially impressionable youth; and 2) It is terribly demoralizing for our police departments and law abiding citizens. Recent legislative initiatives such as the promotion of work restitution programs, victim protection, and stronger penalties for habitual c.'minals are helping, but more emphasis is needed in the area of j,ivenile crime prevention and penalities. M-1 YOUTH SERVICE BUREAU Youth service bureaus operating witnin or by joint powers agreement among, a small number of communities and sponsored through federal and state grants have proven successful in curbing increased incidence of repetitive youth offense, especially because of their ease and speed of access by local clients. However, this concept is endangered due to funa limitations caused by levy limit restrictions which do not allow flexibility to start new programs or allow funding when. Federal Grants run out. THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD ENCOURAGE: LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO SPONSOR YOUTH SERVICE BUREAU TYPE: ACTIVITIES AS A HELP AND BUFFER TO THE COURT SYSTEM AND A PREVENTATIVE FOR HABITUAL YOUTH OFFENSE. THE LEGISLATURE HAS ALREADY ALLOCATED SOME FUNDS FOR THIS TYPE OF ACTIVITY, BUT TO SUCCEED MUST PROVIDE LOCAL UNITS THE ABILITY TO FUND THESE PROGRAMS THROUGH THE LOCAL. PROPERTY TAX LEVY BY USE OF A SPECIAL LEVY OR BASE: INCREASES. M-2 YOUTH PUNISHMENT Because of the increasing incidence: of youthful offenders, the judicial system out of sheer burden tends to be somewhat lax in -21'-