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Teen Violence
"When I see an officer I automatically
cross the street and distance myself. I can't help but stammer and stare
at their Billy clubs and handcuffs."
By Julie Kusnir
 The
Surgeon General released a report this week saying that violent crime by
teenagers is down. But crackdowns on kids are also making news, from new
juvenile crime initiatives in places like California to youth arrests
for the crime of eating french fries on the subway in DC. Julie Kusnir
has these thoughts.
So teen violence has gone down, and now
everybody is going to try to take credit for this good news -especially
our new commander in chief W. After all his campaigning that
trouble-making kids need to be locked up, you can bet that he is going
to do everything possible to turn this into a win for the heavy
prosecution of minors. I mean, from where I sit, it seems like every man
and woman under 18 would be in jail if George W had his way.
It's too soon to know whether California's own juvenile crime initiative
has affected the rates of teen violence, but I can tell you that tension
and fear have definitely risen for teens. Personally, I have NO reason
to fear the police. As a 17-year-old girl, I've done everything that
society would want me to do. I've stayed in school and out of trouble
but now more then ever, when I see an officer I automatically cross the
street and distance myself. I can't help but stammer and stare at their
Billy clubs and handcuffs. The fact that I haven't done anything wrong
isn't even an issue. I get the sense that people just don't want
teenagers around. We are the enemies in the war against crime. If you
lock us all up, there will be no one left to commit crimes, right? And
no more reason for adults to fear. Even if this were true, is it worth
the price??
I want to make clear to all of those right wing
politicians who say that only after all of the 'criminals are taken out
of society will we be ok. Your jails are creating anger and fear - even
in those who don't break the law. And for those inside, the Surgeon
General's report even shows that adult prisons creates repeat offenders
instead of reforming them. This is a recipe for anarchy - the very thing
W and his posse want to prevent. I don't even want to get started about
the prison industrial complex. All I want is for everyone to ask
themselves: In who's interest is it that America's young people live in
fear of our government, our leaders, and our police?
Instead of
running from us, try to understand us. Instead of giving prizes - like a
promotion from governor to president - for criminalizing us, make it
harder for us to commit crimes. Give us real alternatives. Let's face it
- since the beginning of time teenagers have always engaged in more
risky activity than adults. We are more likely to get into physical
fights than middle aged people. This is not something new. It has always
been this way. What's new is that there's no safe space to just be
ourselves and be understood. Let's make sure that although crime is
going down, the arrests of youth won't continue to go up.
—
Julie Kusnir is a senior at Berkeley High School.
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