This article is from page 12 of the 2006-06-27 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 12 JPG
THE programme which deals with young offenders is far too lenient and must be overhauled. That’s according to Shannonbased Councillor Tony Mulcahy (FG), who was speaking in reference to the increasing number of young offenders coming to the attention of gardaí in the county.
Councillor Mulcahy said children as young as 12 are getting involved in anti-social behaviour and that repeat offenders should face the rigours of the law. Young offenders are dealt with under the Juvenile Diversion programme, which is designed to deal with children who commit offences, in a manner other than prosecution. Juvenile Liaison Officers (JLOs) deal with these youths.
“We have to review the JLO system, going forward. We have anti-social behaviour from people as young as 12. We can’t have a warning system going on to the age of 18, when there can be 100 ticks on the card,” he said.
“We have a responsibility to ensure there is a punishment for crime. This is causing a lot of the elderly to be intimidated. It starts with minor crime and criminal damage and we need to address that as a society. It is too lenient at the moment. If we are dealing with these issues, we have to take stronger action,” said Cllr Mulcahy. The Acting Head of the Clare Garda Division, Superintendent John Kerin said the existing system is effective, and that most of those who come under the scheme, do not re-offend.
“Statistically, the people who are in charge of it will tell you, the vast majority of those who come under the scheme don’t re-offend and habitual criminals who don’t learn lessons are brought to court,” said Supt Kerin.
“Everybody will make a mistake. Five or six per cent of people who come under it prove to be a waste of time. The vast majority of people don’t re-offend,” he added.
Last year, 576 referrals were made from the Clare Garda Division, to the Garda National Juvenile Officer – an increase on almost half on the previous year.
In total, 459 individual children were referred, under the Juvenile Liaison programme, during 2005, which is an increase on 355 during the previous year. 59 of those were deemed unsuitable; 69 received formal cautions; 267 were given informal cautions, while no further action was taken against 33 others. A second Juvenile Officer was appointed in Clare for the first time last year, to deal with the increasing trend of juvenile crime in the division.