WHEN JUVENILES ARE CRIMINALS, PUBLIC NEEDS INFORMATION

Juvenile crime has been growing at alarming rates across the nation. Perhaps most disturbing about this trend is the increase in juvenile involvement in violent crimes such as murder, rape and assault. The number of referrals to juvenile court due to violent crimes has tripled in Missouri during the last decade.

Frustrating to the public is the lack of information about these young offenders. Laws in most states protect their names and provide lenience on many crimes because of their age.

But that is changing.

A national movement is urging lawmakers to pass laws that would allow the public to know more about teen-agers who commit violent crimes, especially the repeat, hard-core offenders. Many states are also lowering the ages at which teen-agers can be certified as adults for such crimes as murder.

The notion behind protecting juvenile offenders with confidentiality has merit. Understandably, a mistake made in young years shouldn't taint a person's ability to reform. But the courts and states should differentiate between mistakes and repeat offenders who practice violent crime as a way of life. Public knowledge about these dangerous juveniles would protect schools and the public at large.

That isn't to say all details of every juvenile crime should be made public. In some cases, such as drug sales at schools, specific details of the cases could be released without mentioning names. Even this non-identifying information would be valuable details to students, teachers and parents without jeopardizing confidentiality.

Serious cases, though, that involve violence against persons should be released in generous detail. Cases should be followed through from start to finish, so other juveniles can see the cause and effect of each crime. Young offenders should understand that serious consequences are attached to crime.

Missouri lawmakers approved a new juvenile crime bill that would give law enforcement and school officials more ammunition in the fight against juvenile crime. Gov. Carnahan can move the state toward openness regarding juvenile offenders by signing the bill into law.

It would give school administrators more access to records about problem students. Schools should know the history of students with violent or drug-related criminal records. Withholding that information isn't fair to schools, which are at the forefront of the battle against a growing crime spree.

Another provision would make juveniles' records public if they are charged with certain felonies. This would allow the public increased information to the most serious crimes.

Recent drug sales involving juveniles at Cape Girardeau's Central High School could have gone unnoticed, because the information didn't appear on regular police reports.

Administrators chose to release details after being questioned by the Southeast Missourian, which was forthright and sensible. Parents want to know that a 13-year-old girl was caught with LSD drops and was permanently expelled. It illustrates that Cape Girardeau isn't immune to drug trafficking, and it demonstrates that the district deals with such matters with appropriate severity.

Violent juvenile offenders earn a sense of security that their names won't be released to the public. If the juvenile crime bill becomes law, that will change. Juvenile crime has changed considerably since the last code was approved in the 1950s. Today's approach to juvenile offenders should fit the crimes.