Editorial: Progressive thought

Friday, July 29, 2005 | 5:03 a.m.

WEEKEND EDITION

July 30-31, 2005

It's hard to imagine a 14-year-old girl picked up for prostitution being locked away in a jail cell as if she were a dangerous criminal. Somewhere along the way in that girl's life adults neglected her, molested her or otherwise failed in their responsibility to her. This is the emerging thought among police, judges, public defenders and juvenile detention officials in Clark County, and we agree completely.

A plan is taking shape among Chief Public Defender Susan Roske, Juvenile Judge William Voy, Sheriff Bill Young, Juvenile Justice Director Kirby Burgess and other court and law enforcement officials. The plan is to house teenagers accused of prostitution in safe houses instead of jails. There they can receive services that might change the course of their lives. The officials are seeking grants and other sources of financing for the plan and we wish them success.

The public defender's office is also making a major policy change. In the past it often hired outside attorneys with no particular expertise in juvenile justice to defend teenagers accused of prostitution. The new policy is to assign public defenders trained in juvenile cases to these youths, and to assign the department's social workers to help out. Youths in these situations need positive influences in their lives, and we're glad to see such changes under way.