Last night we reported on five murders in just one weekend. So how do you fight crime on that scale? Well calling the police is one way but there are those who say another approach might be best. They say the old adage works best: prevention is better than cure. And to prevent it, The Faith and Justice Committee from St. Martin's Deporres Church took the message to the youths. Here's more.
Trevor Arnold, Inmate at Hattieville Prison
"I used to be somebody who wanted to be a man before their time and that doesn't make sense. My decision which I made, it didn't really cover up for the stupidness I did and my decisions really affect me and hurt me so then you have to be careful of certain decisions you make because behind they have consequences."
For 18-year-old Trevor Arnold the consequence was jail. At only 16 years old he was charged for murder and later convicted of manslaughter. He is now serving a six-year jail sentence and using his story to steer other teens onto the right path.
Trevor Arnold,
"It doesn't make any sense. You are either wasting your life and then you either die and my advice for you guys is to stay in school and get your education and become somebody successful in life, be somebody who society can look up to. Not somebody who will be a notorious criminal but somebody who has a business, somebody who is running and managing somewhere."
It's sober advice for Crystal Castillo and Jonathan Milligan from Ladyville Technical High. They have a close personal relationship and argue constantly.
Jonathon Milligan, Ladyville Technical High
"All the time me and Crystal, we always have some confrontation in class and at times I think to myself it doesn't make any sense. So me and Crystal, we worked out our differences by talking to each other, figure what is the problem and after that our friendship is far stronger than before."
Both the forum's coordinator Maria Coye and guest speaker Senior Superintendent Yolanda Murray agree that if violence on the street and in homes is to be defeated - it'll have to begin with these very youths you're looking at.
Maria Coye,
"We hope that out of this, we are going to suggestions and try to find solutions as to how we can reach the youths in the various communities so that the violence can be curbed."
Sr. Supt. Yolando Murray,
"This forum is very important because then we can hear the views of some of our young people, although it is a small portion compared to the amount that we have in the population, we can still hear their views and see where we can also go from there with their views and see how we can improve as a department."
