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News-Sun photo by CHRISTOPHER TUFFLEY Sheriff Susan Benton enjoys passing on good news to the Children's Services Council Wednesday morning.

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published: Friday, November 20, 2009

Benton: Youth crime rate on the decline

By CHRISTOPHER TUFFLEY

christopher.tuffley@newssun.com

SEBRING -- Members of the Children's Services Council received encouraging news at their regular meeting Wednesday morning.

Sheriff Susan Benton said that the yearly statistics regarding juvenile crime show a downward trend in Highlands County.

The data, collected by the Clerk of the Courts Juvenile Division, show 823 complaints filed against young offenders in 2008. While that might seem a large number, in fact it is only four more complaints than were filed in 1999, Benton said, when the youth population of the county was considerably smaller (the student population has increased by 3,000 in the last decade).

Benton said this showed the council's work is paying off. Programs such as the Avon Park Youth Academy and the Children's Advocacy Center have had a positive impact, she said, as have many other programs the council supports with grants.

"You can see the fruits of your labor (in the numbers)," Benton said.

"Right now there are only about 120 kids on probation, and that speaks volumes," she added.

For example, of the 823 young people who got into trouble in 2008, 460 cases were disposed of prior to court intervention and the children remained out of trouble.

Generally speaking, Benton said, only about 2 percent of young people are serious, repeat offenders.

Benton explained that historically, when it came to children, law enforcement agencies typically didn't coordinate with the schools or courts.

Now deputies get lists of who is on probation and who has to meet an evening curfew. Deputies follow up with these young people, she said, visiting them at home to ensure compliance.

In other news coming out of the council meeting, Kathy Main, a school district social worker, and Patty English, a teacher at Woodlawn Elementary School, were selected by fellow members to be, respectively, chair and vice-chair of the Children's Services Council for 2010.

Velma Lumpkin, executive director of the Avon Park Community Child Development Center and the 2009 recipient of the Judge Clifton M. Kelly Champion for Children Award, will be joining the council as an honorary member.

Nancy Hensley, chairperson of the Children's Services Foundation reported that while, due to the economy, the Champion for Children Gala did not raise as much money for the foundation as it has in the past, just as many people (400) turned out for the gala.

The Children's Advocacy Center's expansion continues on schedule, Jeff Roth, the executive director, told the council. He expects to be moving into the extension on Feb. 1.

Andrew Hughes, outgoing chair of the council, briefed members on the new Salute to the Arts program being instituted in county schools. Kits have been distributed to every elementary teacher, which contain six different art projects to be done in the classroom.

The highlight of the program, which is a private/public endeavor, will happen on May 1 at the South Florida Community College when 8,000 pieces of this artwork will be displayed along with student dance, theater and music performances.