EXPERT ON GANG VIOLENCE WILL SPEAK HERE TONIGHT

One of the country's most outspoken experts on gangs and youth violence will be in Cape Girardeau tonight to present a workshop on the symptoms of and solutions to juvenile violence.

Steve Nawojczyk, who retired in 1994 as Pulaski County coroner in Little Rock, Ark., will present the workshop at Southeast Missouri State University's Dempster Hall of Business tonight from 7 to 9.

In his 20 years as a death-scene investigator, Nawojczyk witnessed firsthand the effects of youth violence. He has become one of the nation's leading authorities on gang culture and psychology. His work with gangs and juvenile violence was featured in the HBO "America Undercover' series, "Gang War: Bangin' in Little Rock."

Nawojczyk's presentation is designed to make communities aware of the dynamics of gang culture and motivate communities to become proactive in developing and implementing programs to manage juvenile violence in their area.

The program is sponsored jointly by the Cape Girardeau County juvenile office, the Cape Girardeau Police Department, the Southeast Missouri Regional Law Academy and KFVS-TV. It is free to the public.

No children under the age of 12 will be admitted, and children age 12 and older must be accompanied by an adult.