City Council Committee -
Community Improvement and Crime Prevention

PLACE: Civic Auditorium, North Hall, 525 N. Center Street

ATTENDANCE:

COMMITTEE REPORT

DISCUSSION:

Committee Deliberations

I. JUVENILE JUSTICE UPDATE

Damon Evans provided the group with an update on the COPS program. Referrals continue to decrease, with three for August and six for September. Classes continue to be held the first Saturday of each month. However, due to the low number of referrals in August, there was not a September class. There will be a class scheduled for October. To date, there have been 25 classes, with a total of 175 offenders completing the program. A statistical query going back to September 2003 shows that of the 125 minors who completed the first 16 classes (from April 2002-September 2003), 33 have reoffended. The program has proven to be an effective tool as a diversion option based on the fact that before implementation of the program, those juveniles would have been placed on probation.

•  GRAFFITI HOTLINE UPDATE

Brice Hammerstein distributed graffiti hotline statistics, reporting the total number of calls received at this time last year was 757, so it appears the number of calls is declining in comparison. He processed two graffiti arrest rewards recently. Karen Daly stated numerous former MUD employees have been transferred to Public Works and are being utilized to remove graffiti from the highway areas.

•  PEACEKEEPERS UPDATE

Adolfo Cruz distributed a bulletin to Committee members, which outlined some of the current projects being addressed by this program. Peacekeepers was implemented to address Stockton 's street-gang element through a series of forums, meetings, and anti-violence media messages. Their stance is that violence will not be tolerated, and law enforcement agencies have made eradicating gang violence a top priority. This program has had a tremendous impact on reducing youth gang violence.

There are currently three Youth Outreach Workers, in addition to Mr. Cruz, who is the program coordinator. Jose Gomez is in charge of Stagg, Edison , Franklin , and Lodi High Schools , as well as the south and east sides of Stockton . Sam Lee is in charge of Bear Creek and Tokay High Schools and Morada Middle School , and the northwest and northeast sections of the city. Gang-related problems have begun surfacing at the junior high and elementary school levels and must be addressed before they are given the chance to reach the high school campuses. Even with a limited staff and resources, the program has been successful in maintaining a relatively low youth gang-related homicide rate. The program continues to educate youth concerning the consequences of gang violence and to assist local schools and the community in this endeavor. They are currently working on a project which will use gang members who have been arrested as “poster children” to spread the word to others that they will be prosecuted. These posters will include pictures of those arrested and the sentences they received.

•  OTHER BUSINESS

Councilmember Ruhstaller stated he has seen a problem in Stockton recently concerning shopping carts being abandoned most often near large apartment complexes. Captain Helms responded that the Police Department is aware of the problem and has scheduled a meeting with managers from area grocery stores to address this issue. The problem stems from the fact that most of the stores contract with a pick-up service to return the carts to the stores, but this only occurs once a week and that is not often enough to abate the problem.

Councilmember Ruhstaller suggested a report eventually be presented to City Council concerning what this Committee has accomplished thus far, and what direction it will be taking in the near future. Since a new Council will be in place in the next few months, it would be helpful information for the new members, as a means of bringing them up to speed. It might also be advantageous to have them in attendance at a future meeting. When the Committee was originally created, the purpose was abating graffiti. Later, it was broadened to encompass juvenile justice and community-improvement issues. Committee members were urged to come to the next meeting prepared to discuss the future direction of the Committee, including possible issues that should be addressed.

With no further business, the meeting was adjourned. The next Committee meeting will be held on November 15, at 4:00 p.m. , in the NORTH HALL of the Civic Auditorium.

/csh