ASHCROFT PUSHES TO OPEN JUVENILE CRIME LOGS

While touring regions of Cape Girardeau known for gang activity Wednesday, police impressed upon U.S. Sen. John Ashcroft the need for better access to juvenile records.

Because younger criminals who move into the area to help set up gangs are often from urban areas -- frequently from out of state -- local law enforcement struggles to scrap together information about them.

Other law enforcement officials, prosecutors and judges who also met with the senator during a breakfast meeting told Ashcroft the same thing.

"We have juveniles who we call gang bangers who travel here from the West Coast to set up drug markets," said Cape Girardeau County Sheriff John Jordan. "They roll into town, and for us to get information on them is very hard."

Ashcroft is the sponsor of a collection of juvenile crime reforms known as the Violent and Hard-Core Juvenile Offender Act. A chief component of the legislation would allow for greater access to juvenile criminal records for police, school officials and judges and prosecutors.

"I really believe they need that interstate access to records," Ashcroft said. "Juvenile criminals are becoming more mobile and when they move from state to state, law enforcement needs to know."

Said Cape Girardeau Police Chief Howard "Butch" Boyd: "I'm thrilled with his interest in the juvenile justice system. Obviously some things need to be done and we're moving onward and upward."

Boyd and officers Charlie Herbst and Ike Hammonds showed Ashcroft gang graffiti in the 400 block of Good Hope Street. A particular symbol marked the territory of the 14th Street Morrison Mob, a North St. Louis-based group.

While officers can consult with gang experts in the St. Louis Police Department about particular groups, information on juvenile members is hard to come by.

Area officials are receptive to legislation which would put information about juvenile criminals on the Federal Bureau of Investigation's national database. Some would also like to see mandatory fingerprinting of juvenile offenders and the inclusion of that information in the FBI system.

"I feel pretty good that he is trying to get greater records access on the national level because I think that will be a key for law enforcement," said Jordan.

While various agencies have information on juvenile offenders, some of it never gets to those who need it because such records usually are kept secret.

"I talked to a judge in St. Louis who sentenced an individual who he thought was a first offender," Ashcroft said. "He later stumbled into information and found out he had a long record of violent activity in California."

Intelligence is useless unless it is shared, Jordan said.

Cooperation between agencies in Cape Girardeau County proves that sharing information can help police catch criminals of all ages.

"Time and time again we've come out on top in a variety of ways and, in most cases, just a step ahead of the criminal element," Jordan said.