Teens told to choose school

Friday, May 8, 1998 | 10:07 a.m.

Area children are being encouraged to choose school over crime so they can help solve many of the problems that confront Nevada teenagers.

Deputy Nevada Attorney General Matthew Dushoff of Las Vegas told 24 students at a Youth for Justice Conference Thursday that education, anticipation and dedication were the keys to solving those problems.

"You know there are problems out there, so stop them before they get started," Dushoff said. "It will be youths like yourselves who will help stop these problems."

The conference, sponsored by the Nevada Bar Association and conducted at the Tournament Players Club in Summerlin, involved students in sixth through eighth grades. Some of the students participate in teen crime prevention programs at their respective schools.

Dushoff rattled off a series of statistics about Nevada teens and births, many of which were less than flattering.

He said that of the 50 states, Nevada ranked 32nd in low-birth weight, seventh in infant mortality, 44th in child fatalities, 28th in teen homicides and suicides, 42nd in teen births, 25th in juvenile violent crime, 44th in school dropouts, 39th in teen unemployment, and 17th in teen poverty.

Dushoff recalled his days as a public defender in New York City.

"About 90 percent of my cases in one way or another involved drugs," he said. "You know what was the average age of my clients? Yes, 18. I never met a drug dealer over 23 years old. They were either dead, strung out or in jail.

"You either get death, death or jail or you can get an education and a great life. There doesn't seem to be a lot of choice there."

Dushoff also touted the Juvenile Justice Initiative introduced by the attorney general's office last year. The initiative includes better coordination of community-based juvenile delinquency programs, and promotion of positive behavior among school-aged children.

Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa, who was slated to address the conference, had to cancel because of a scheduling conflict. But in a written statement she noted the importance of tackling juvenile crime.

"A couple of weeks ago, the lead story on the nightly news was the fact that kids brought loaded guns to three Clark County schools that day," Del Papa stated.

"In the wake of recent tragedies across America involving juveniles and crime, and recent reports about rising violence in our nation's schools, it is particularly important for all of us to reflect on the importance of joining together to better enhance and coordinate our efforts to reduce the incidences of juvenile violence in our state."