WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE KIDS IN KITTERY?

(A STATUS REPORT ON JUVENILE CRIME)

BY: WILLIAM HACKETT, JUVENILE OFFICER, KITTERY POLICE DEPT.

   Each year the F.B.I. releases statistical reports on the number of adult and juvenile offenses committed Nationwide and on a state-by-state basis.  Since 1997 the crime rate has been dropping, especially violent crimes.  Maine ranks at the top of the list for being one of the safest places in the US in which to live. 

   In Kittery we do not see the daily extreme violence that is reported on the nightly news in other parts of the country.  We have had no car-jackings, no juvenile homicides or school shootings, no gang activity and no street-corner drug selling.  Our juvenile crime rate is low and for the most part, non-violent.  What we as police officers do see however, are certain patterns of juvenile behavior that seem to recur.  Disobedience and lack of respect for parents and other authority figures seems to begin at around age 13 and manifests itself in threats  being made against teachers, parents and peers.  While disobedience is not, in and of itself, a crime; threats (criminal threatening, terrorizing) are crimes.  Bullying in school and in neighborhoods has become a problem and has resulted in many juveniles being charged with assault.

   Last year I instituted a policy whereby all violent and/or weapon related offenses committed by juveniles were automatically referred directly to court, bypassing any other  alternative disposition.

This year to date, fifteen juveniles, all Kittery residents, have been charged with assault.

   Offenses such as vandalism (criminal mischief) in which victims have suffered financial losses are treated in a manner designed to assure that victims are reimbursed.  This year our statistics went up due to a "bump" caused by a spree of vehicle vandalism that occurred in Admiralty Village and neighboring streets during one night in  May.  A total of 26 vehicles were vandalized by three teenagers, all Kittery residents.  There have been several incidents of "drive-by B.B. Gun, shootings" where parked vehicles had windows shot out.  The use of B.B. Guns and Paint Ball Guns by juveniles has increased, as have incidents where these devices have been found during routine motor vehicle stops of vehicles being operated by juveniles.

   Thefts, shoplifting and  misuse of credit credentials resulted in 28 juvenile arrests this year to date.  The juveniles involved were a mix of residents and non-residents ranging in age from 13 to 17.   There was one high-speed pursuit of two teenagers in a stolen car, stolen in Portsmouth, NH; passing through Kittery during the pursuit and ending with the juveniles' arrest in Dover, NH.  One of the juveniles was a Kittery resident.

   There have been no reported rapes committed by  juveniles, no robberies (the taking of property by the use or threatened use of force), no arson and no burglaries (the entering of property with the intent to commit a crime such as theft).

   National surveys of high school seniors provide some very interesting statistics that probably would be mirrored locally if similar surveys were conducted in Kittery.  3.9% indicate that they use alcohol daily and 52% indicate that they have been drunk at least once in the  last year.  22.4% use cigarettes daily and 5.6% use marijuana daily.  The Kittery Police Department has interrupted several parties at which juveniles were consuming alcohol.  For the most part, our concern was for the health and safety of impaired juveniles and every effort was made to have the partygoers picked up by their parent-thereby making the parent aware of a potential substance abuse problem.  Those responsible for providing a place for the juveniles to consume alcohol were charged with a criminal offense-even if the person responsible was also a juvenile.

   The use of alcohol by our youth seems to be "the drug of choice" with marijuana running a very close second.  This problem is being addressed on several, cooperative fronts by the police, the schools and K-CAP (Kittery Chemical Abuse & Prevention, Inc.).  The following letter was recently prepared by Kittery Police D.A.R.E. Officer Russ French and this writer and distributed via the Traip Academy Newsletter to all parents of Traip Academy students:

September 23, 2003

Dear Parent or Guardian,

   Occasionally parents are under the mistaken impression that being present or hosting teenage parties where drinking of alcohol is allowed is acceptable or that it is safer for the teenagers to have the adult  supervision.

   In the real world this is not only irresponsible behavior, it is illegal behavior.  Parents who furnish alcohol to teenagers or permit the consumption of alcohol on their premises (homes, grounds, yards) can be arrested, charged with a Class D Crime; and face up to a year in jail and/or fines up to $2000.00.  If one of the teenagers is under 14 years of age or if the violation is a second offense within 6 years, there is a minimum fine of at least $500.00.  Fines continue to escalate for third or subsequent offenses.

   In addition to the risk of incurring a permanent criminal record, a parent who furnishes alcohol to minors (or adults for that matter) who become intoxicated and are involved in an accident or personal injury also incur civil liability for damages up to $250,000.00, plus medical expenses, under the Maine Liquor Liability Act.

   Teenagers under the age of 18 who furnish liquor to their peers or who permit consumption on premises under their control (their home, no parent present for example) are also subject to arrest, fines or other appropriate penalties at the discretion of the juvenile court.

   Maine has a "Zero Tolerance" law for drivers under 21 years of age which states that if you operate or attempt to operate a vehicle with any measurable amount of alcohol in your blood, you will lose your license for one year.  Refusal to complete a breath test under these circumstances will also result in an automatic one-year loss of license.

   Maine has one of the more stringent O.U.I Laws in the Country and it pertains to teenagers as well as adults-for good reason.  The number one killer of teenagers is drunk driving.  More than 3,500 teenagers are killed and another 85,000 injured each year in alcohol related vehicle accidents.  Many of these casualties were the victims of another drunk driver.  The plain truth is, drinking and driving is just plain stupid, not to mention deadly.

   Any parent or student having questions as to the applicability of Maine Liquor Laws, Motor Vehicle Laws or other questions pertaining to enforcement by the Kittery Police Department are urged to call or write Officer Russ French, D.A.R.E. Officer or Officer Bill Hackett, Juvenile Officer at 207-439-1638.

Sincerely,

Russ French D.A.R.E. Officer

In addition to my more or less full time duties as Juvenile Officer, I also am one of two Child Abuse Investigators in the Department and I am the designated E.C.C.O. (Elder Crime Contact Officer) for the Department.  This year to date, I have investigated 14 child abuse  cases, 10 of which resulted in criminal charges being brought against the abuser (two abusers being juveniles).  There are currently two active cases still under investigation as this year comes to an end.

   During this year I have also investigated 3 cases of Elder Abuse or Exploitation.  This is a  new field of investigation for me personally and one that is now being much more aggressively pursued by the Maine Office of the Attorney General in cooperation with local police departments.  Any resident with concerns about possible abuse or exploitation of an elderly person is urged to contact me (207-439-1638) or Det. Mark Walsh of the Maine Attorney General's Office (207-626-8594).

   One of the more frightening phenomenons to have developed recently is the explosive increase in the number of kids who are connected via computer to the Internet.  Kids by their very nature are curious and are exploring web sites and entering chat rooms where they are immediately recognized as prey by pedophiles who have discovered that the computer allows them to electronically enter your kids' bedroom and do so in complete privacy.  It has been proven that once a kid begins a "chat" with one of these pedophiles, within a couple of minutes the pedophile will know the child's name, age, sex, address, probably their telephone number, the name of their school and their grade in school.  They will know the child's likes, dislikes and fantasies and can play the role of the victim's best friend.  Over time-and by "time" I mean days-the pedophile can so ingratiate himself into the child's life that the child may be convinced to leave home and travel to meet with the pedophile.

   This is a serious potential threat  and kids who use the computer and frequent the Internet must be made aware of the dangers.  The parents should become equally aware of the potential danger and supervise their children's activities.  The Kittery Police Department has a new, locally produced video on this subject which is available to any group or individual desiring to borrow it.

   Any residents having questions regarding Juvenile Crime, the law as it applies to juveniles, child abuse and neglect or elder abuse and exploitation are urged to contact this writer, Det. William Hackett, at the Kittery Police Department  (207-439-1638).

End