[tat2me82]

I honestly feel that if kids had more to do, most of them wouldn't be getting into the trouble they are now. I also think that most of them haven't learned that they are in control of the choices they make, and they need to understand that some of the choices they make will have consequences not only for them. That goes all back to the parenting though, sheeeeeeesh the morals and respect seem to have completley diminished, it drives me absolutely bonkers!!

All the security cameras in the world won't make much difference if the criminal penalty is a low level misdemeanor. Expanding on some of the posts in this thread, I think that increasing the penalty for gang related graffiti to felony level would be a start. I definately agree there, they make think it's a light offense, but they probably don't factor in the cost of covering it up etc. Possibly adopting a state version of the RICO statutes could be used to bring in a whole group of them instead of singling them out. The gang leaders are the ones running the show but keep their hands clean in terms of being linked to the street violence but use something like RICO could help bring them down.

As far as punishment, I really like the idea of tent city (Maricopa County Jail). No cozy jail cell with three meals a day, medical care, TV, and air conditioning at the taxpayers expense without some kind of real punishment. Get a chain gang together and have them scrub or paint over the graffiti, pick up garbage , or something. Oh yeah, and make the family pay the tab especially if they are juvenilesI'm all for that!! Maybe the parents will start taking a bit more control and action in their kids lives. .[/quote]