Coming together to save our future.

Crime, particularly violent juvenile crime, has captured the attention of the American public - and that public is demanding that something be done to stem the rise of violence among youths. Some have called for the elimination of the juvenile justice system, labeling it a failure and outdated. Communities now are looking for a quick fix for a problem that has been years in the making, one that has grown and festered for reasons too numerous to mention.

Realistically, no one can wave a magic wand and make the violence and frustration go away. Even if the juvenile justice system were dismantled completely and all juvenile offenders tried as adults, this would succeed only in shifting responsibility for the problem, not solving it. Any realistic, long-term solution will require a reexamination and reevaluation of the entire juvenile justice process, with a focus on finding solutions, not fixing blame. Although far from perfect, the juvenile justice system offers the best opportunity for turning around this critical social problem of the '90s.

Reading the newspaper and watching the evening news, we can't help but realize that something is terribly wrong - there are children selling and using drugs at an age when they should be playing childhood games, children taking the lives of other children, children who see no future in education or work. It is easy to feel overwhelmed, frustrated, helpless. But, we won't find solutions by throwing up our hands or scrapping our juvenile system. To change the images on the news, child advocates and juvenile justice professionals will need to work hand in hand with policymakers and community leaders, investing time and resources in the lives of children and families.

Although the tendency is to look for the one program that will work a miracle and solve all of the problems (and be cost effective), the reality is that youths' needs vary dramatically. No single program can be expected to be successful with all children. Family preservation services, alternative schools, community prevention and intervention programs, teen learning centers, residential care programs, boot camps and institutional programs all can play a role in reclaiming America's youth. But no single program can do it all.

To be responsive and effective in working with youth, communities must develop a continuum of care, with programs rooted firmly in treatment and rehabilitation but providing the degree of accountability and structure necessary to ensure public safety. The commission of a crime by a juvenile is no less a crime because of the age of the perpetrator. The continuum must ensure that personal responsibility and consequences for one's actions are woven into all program models, while remembering that all of us have the capacity to change.

Changing the system is not something that can be completed during a single legislative session or the tenure of an elected official. It is an ongoing process that requires the commitment and energy of all who believe in the potential that exists within each child.

Much about the juvenile system works; nevertheless, there also is room for improvement. Instead of condemning the existing process for its failures and sweeping all offenders into the criminal justice system, it is imperative that we build on its strengths and develop effective programs and services. The stakes are high - a failure to invest our time, talent and resources in strengthening our response to juvenile crime can only exacerbate the exploding numbers of angry and hopeless individuals in our jails and prisons. Salvaging young offenders is not without cost - but neither is the life-long custodial care that is the result of our failure to deal effectively with violence among youths. Nothing is more costly than lost potential.