POLICE LAYING FEWER YOUTH CRIME CHARGES

Despite a jump in the number of drug charges, youth crime is on an
overall decline in Hamilton, according to a police report.

Last year, police laid 679 youth crime charges -- 24 per cent fewer
than in 2009. Despite a slight spike in 2009, youth crime has been on
a downward trend for more than a decade now, with police pressing more
than 1,800 charges in 2001.

"We're very excited," said youth services co-ordinator, Sergeant
Andrew Toms.

Substantial headway was made in curbing the number of property and
violent crime charges, which are down 38 per cent and 20 per cent,
respectively, over 2009.

Drug crime is up, however, with police pressing 29 per cent more
charges in 2010 than they did the previous year.

Toms said the increase in drug charges isn't reason to sound the
alarms. Rather, the number of youths charged indicates the growing
ability of officers to track down drugs and get them out of schools
and off the streets.

Through a youth drug diversion program, police managed to seize close
to 370 grams of marijuana in random sweeps of local schools. Of those
caught with drugs, many managed to avoid charges by participating in
an education day -- a strategy used to decrease their likelihood of
reoffending.

Toms attributed the overall downward trend to increased engagement
with youth and the success of the strategic targeted offender program
(STOP), which tracks high-risk and repeat offenders. He also lauded
the restorative justice project, which facilitates communication
between the offender and those harmed and focuses on repair, rather
than punishment.

By the numbers:

679: Total number of youths between the ages of 12 and 17 charged with
crimes in Hamilton last year.

557: The number of males charged with youth crimes last
year.

122: The number of females charged with youth crimes last
year.

1,838: The number of youths involved in crimes last year, but not
charged.

1.6: The number, in per cent, of Hamilton youth charged with a crime
last year.