PORTSMOUTH
Setting youths on a path to college, rather than prison, makes sense for a community, Rep. Bobby Scott told a room full of teens, parents, educators and law enforcement officers on Tuesday night.
Scott hosted a teen summit on violence at I.C. Norcom High School. It's one of several such meetings the 3rd District Democrat has hosted around the region in support of legislation he proposed called the "Youth Promise Act" that would provide money for programs to prevent juvenile violence and criminal street gang activity.
Scott invited as speakers Jerrauld Jones, Norfolk Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court judge; Dewey Cornell, clinical psychologist and director of the Virginia Youth Violence Project; and Elaine Breathwaite, assistant director of the Portsmouth Department of Behavioral Healthcare Services.
Two students from I.C. Norcom joined the panel.
Cracking down on teen violence when it has already happened is too late, Scott said. He argued that harsh sentences for teenage offenders lead to further crime upon release.
The solution lies in reaching children before they even approach their teens, he said.
"Make sure they can read by third grade, and they won't get in trouble to begin with," Scott said.
Jones agreed. He told the crowd that the people who project how many prison cells the state will need look at third-grade reading scores to help make their predictions.
Students and educators in the crowd talked about the need for better communication. Students said teachers and principals shrug them off when they voice concern about threats. Teachers said students don't listen when adults offer advice or guidance.
Many in the crowd advocated community involvement and volunteering in schools as a way to connect with children and provide role models.
Michelle Washington, (757) 446-2287, michelle.washington@pilotonline.com
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