HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-10-01 - AGENDA REPORTS - JUVENILE CRIME (2)CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor Boyer and City Councilmembers
FROM: George A. Caravalho, City Manager
DATE: October 1, 1996
SUBJECT: JUVENILE CRIME IN NEWHALL AREA
The following areas have been identified as increasing problems in the Newhall area with
regards to teens and their subsequent involvement in illegal activity.
1. The fact that five (5) liquor stores exist within a one mile stretch of San
Fernando Road facilitates the accessibility of alcohol and tobacco to minors.
2. Pay phones located adjacent to the liquor stores and subsequent businesses
allow juveniles a legitimate reason for congregating at these locations and to
loiter.
3. Budget cutbacks within Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) have limited our
abilities to perform sting operations in order to control the sale of alcohol and
tobacco to minors.
4. On the average, the COBRA Team identifies 15 to 20 new gang members
within the Newhall area each year.
5. Due to increasing follow-up and investigations assigned to the COBRA Team
city-wide, field contracts and visibility have been reduced in the Newhall area.
6. The average age of the gang members and their associates have lowered to 12
to 14 years.
7. Crime fluctuates in the Newhall area. Most of the time it is based on school.
When school is in session, the teens may network their crime involvement
through their school contacts. When school is out, they lose the network due
to their friends coming and going during vacation time.
The reporting district that covers the traditional East Newhall area accounted for 190 calls for
service regarding disturbances from June 1, 1996, through August 14, 1996. These would
include juvenile disturbances, gang disturbances, loud music or parties, family disturbances,
landlord/tenant disputes, fights, drunks and business disturbances.
Agenda Item: 3
Of those 190 calls, 111 occurred between 10 o'clock p.m.. and sunrise.. Juvenile disturbances and
gang related disturbances comprised 14 of the 111 calls.
The overwhelming majority of problems this summer have come from the adult population of
East Newhall, not the juveniles. The Newhall 13 gang had kept a surprisingly low profile
compared with past difficulties. While they are still a blight in the area, these gang members
are generating far fewer calls for service than in past years.
That is not to say that juvenile related crimes and disturbances are not a problem in the area,
only that officers are running into very few curfew related problems. The East Newhall area
commands a great deal of Sheriff resources and receives a significant portion of patrol time due
to the potential for problems.
RECOMMENDATION
Direct staff to continue working with the Sheriff's Department to monitor juvenile activity in
the Newhall area and develop plans to address identifiable issues.
agnrptcrime/gd/MQ