Judge Hahn Our Kids Deserve Better

By Mervin Leon Evans

Dear Judge Hahn:

I was very happy to see you on Dec. 5th As promised here is my letter calling for an end to the practice of local law enforcement arresting young offenders for minor crimes. When High School and Middle School Youth engage in criminal incidents, police agencies do not engage the services and support resources of the Department of Mental Health and the School District Management Resources for our Kids. The School District's Education staff should be the starting point for the administration of services to At Risk Youth. Our School District Educators should be the first to know when one of our kids have a social or drug problem. Our Parents in many cases do not have the Financial Resources to respond to a Criminal Case, and our Taxpayers can not be asked to accept any new Taxes to respond to this crisis.

In some of our neighbors One in Three of our Young People are Victims of the System. Far too many Black and Latin Young People are passing through the doors of our Criminal Courts, this is a National Disgrace.

Judge Hahn, as a past Mayor, City Attorney and City Controller and California's strongest advocate for After School Programs, you know first hand the issues related to this crisis. I would strongly encourage you to ask Mr. Cooley, Mr. Baca ad the Los Angeles Police Commission to stop processing youth offenders. In my judgment it would be a far wiser Public Policy to have a School District and Department of Mental Health Partnership to address the needs of our At Risk Youth. School Counselors and School Police have a far better relationship with our Youth. Our School District Managers and School Police need to know when there is Out of Bounds Conduct of one of their students, to better protect and serve the needs of the rest of the kids. The City of Los Angeles, Board of Education and LA County need to have a very bold Action Plan!

Thank You,

Mervin Evans