According to the 2008 crime rate statistics, it proves to us that the people held responsible for most of the crimes that takes place within the United States are both male and female juveniles. With that said, the government as well as law enforcement agencies have developed a variety of juvenile prevention programs to help out all types of juveniles. This paper will discuss the Valley Gang Prevention Program and Police Activity League Program in which the city of Hemet in California developed to help decrease crime rate and help out both the troubled and non-troubled youth.
These program will be analyzed and compared in order for the reader to gain better knowledge of what these programs are, who they were created for, which one is more effective in reducing juvenile crime and why. City of Hemet In the year of 2010, according to World Media Group, LLC. (2013), it states, “ The Hemet crime rate is higher than the California average crime rate and is higher than the national average crime rate” (para. 1).
Hemet’s increasing of crime rate is due to the increasing of its population therefore; law enforcements found themselves in need of help to maintain things a bit in order and invented juvenile prevention programs such as Valley Gang Prevention Program and Police Activity League Program. Valley Gang Prevention Program The Valley Gang Prevention Program firs came into existence in the summer of 2012. Hemet experienced two black gang related homicides with multiple shootings and witnesses were unwilling to cooperate to solve the case (Hemet Valley Chamber of Commerce, 2012).
Local citizens as well as business owners became concerned with this criminal event as well as the population growth of black juveniles who were mostly found to be affiliated with gangs. The Chamber of Commerce addressed this concern and determined that they could attack gangs at their root by educating and protecting their school age children (Hemet Valley Chamber of Commerce, 2012). The major goal of this program is to provide to the black youth in Hemet community to find and be aware of the potential they have within themselves and become positive leaders for/to other youth (whether they be black, white, Mexican, Asian, etc. .
According to a PowerPoint presentation from the Hemet Valley Chamber of Commerce (2012), it states, “ Valley gang prevention program provides the steps needed for the black youth in Hemet community to become positive leaders in the Valley. ” How does the program work to reduce juvenile crime? Valley gang prevention is a school for young African Americans to participate in to educate themselves on how to become a professional person and gain professional skills that are in growing demand or are constant such as audio/video recording social media marketing, graphics design, web development and sales.
Professionalism is the only cure for the growth of gang culture (Hemet Valley Chamber of Commerce, 2012). Keeping young African Americans occupied with things that they like to do the most encourages them to become successful in life and prevents them from committing crimes that will eventually rulent their lives as well as their families. Keeping them off the street is the way to go. By the end of summer 2012, results of this program led to a release of one music demo tape Vol. 1.
All of the music was written and recorded by the students themselves which is considered by the Chamber of Commerce “ educational and family-friendly. ” The program provides education, encourages positive behavior, and it serves as a fund raiser tool to help support this program. Police Activity League The police activity league program is a non-profit organization that helps build the bond between a child and police officer through positive recreational, cultural, discipline, and mutual trust between children, law enforcement, and other community members (Valley Wide Recreation, 2013).
The mission of police activity league is to strengthen the community by investing in their greatest resource which are children. This program offers young adolescents after school programs, Summer Day Camp, local field-trips, Youth Leadership Academy, CAL PAL field-trips, Youth Directors Council, community service projects and events (Valley Wide Recreation, 2013). Police activity league draws the attention of both parents and children.
Parents who assign their children to become occupied with fun things they like to do that involve law enforcement, are most likely to watch their children grow and become successful in life. The bond created between law enforcement and children helps children gain a better knowledge of who law enforcements are and what their duties are. Once they have learned that law enforcement is not the enemy the children will grow in a comfort zone knowing that law enforcement is a friend who is only there to help.
Comparison of Juvenile Programs The comparison between both juvenile programs is that they both help prevent crimes, strengthen the community, gain professional skills, knowledge of wise life decision making, and most importantly make them feel appreciated and loved by believing in them and their potential skills they contain to offer to this world. For example, although the valley gang prevention program is meant for the young African Americans, it still encourages them to keep off the streets and drugs by seeking inner talent, boost their confidence and learn on how to become a successful adult.
Meanwhile, the police activity league program is for all children with all types of races, it helps parents raise their children to become occupied with positive things in which children will grow to contain positive attitude throughout their lives and become successful people as well. Most Effective Program in Reducing Crime Rate Both programs are very effective in helping the city of Hemet crimes rates minimize. The only difference between the two is age and race groups. Valley gang prevention programs is meant for the black race group who are in their teen age.
Police activity league program is meant for children of all ages, but let’s face it, teenagers now days grow too fast and don’t want to be seen with little children. Therefore, Hemet should consider in developing teen age crime prevention programs such as the gang prevention programs but differently inviting all types of race groups instead of only just one. Other than that, these two programs are effective in different ways. Conclusion Individuals held responsible for committing the majority of crimes are both male and female juveniles.
Today’s youth is what helps us build our new generation therefore; our government as well as law enforcement agencies (having hope in mind for our youth), developed different types of juvenile prevention programs (a form of help aid) such as: Valley Gang Prevention Program and Police Activity League, for the troubled and non-troubled juveniles. These programs are effective in helping juveniles prevent criminal acts also, they help develop to believe in oneself to have the potential needed to become a professional person in which their results will lead to a successful future.