EDITORIAL

By GODFREY WRAY

Youth Crime on Increase
Man's inhumanity to man,
Makes countless thousands mourn.

The last two lines of Robert Burns’ famous poem sprung readily to mind when this newspaper learnt of a callously brutal incident in the heart of Brooklyn, rudely reminding us that crime has become a way of life and many of us are content not to lift a hand to help put a halt to its acceleration.

Recently, Dr. Clayton Johnson, DDS, Guyanese dental surgeon at New York Avenue and Park Place left his office at 1.15 p.m. on a bright, sunny day. Just before purchasing his lunch he stepped into a neighborhood liquor store on Nostrand Avenue to buy a Lottery ticket. Having done so, he turned to leave when two teenagers grabbed, punched and kicked him while trying to relieve him of his wallet. According to the soft-spoken doctor, this was enacted in the presence of the store’s owner and other patrons.

The battle spilled out into the streets and though the lightweight professional attempted to fight off his assailants, while crying out for help, not one person from among the large crowd responded. The young hoodlums eventually succeeded in getting the wallet, then casually jogged off in different directions. The doctor retrieved his cell phone and called the cops. Up to our press time he had heard nothing about the wallet containing his most important documents.

Crimes of this nature are on the increase, being committed by hardcore teenaged recidivists, who know they are sheltered by the Family Court Act that governs the administration of juvenile justice in the New York State.

In an article "When Teen Thugs Get Away With Murder," it was pointed out that 18 months was the maximum period of incarceration (in a camp-like residential facility) for a violent, unprovoked assault like that carried out on the easy-going doctor. Little wonder that teen crime in New York City is soaring, even while crime overall has dramatically declined.

According to the same article, juvenile justice philosophy was running counter to the criminological data. Simple logic suggested that violent young offenders who presently suffer little or no incarceration ought to be held for far longer terms. The juvenile courts were urged to sentence them to terms of six to eight years, and the total amount of crime would drop precipitously.

Those two young criminals showed no compassion while committing that dastardly act on Nostrand Avenue. It was an assault on human dignity, and rather perplexing. How could law-abiding citizens not offer assistance to a professional person who most certainly would be well-known in the area?

The sad truth about the juvenile justice system in New York is that it does little to interfere with young criminal careers. And those with criminal minds are bolstered by their successes, knowing that no one is going to point a finger in their direction.

The philosophy that young felons need rehabilitation, not punishment, has fuelled a juvenile crime wave. It’s time to toughen up on the incarceration.

But first we have to join forces to apprehend these monsters.