POLICE OPPOSE YOUTH BILL

RALEIGH -- Legislation to give
youthful offenders the chance to clear their criminal records has run
into a stumbling block. Scott Perry of the Criminal Justice Standards
Division, has written a letter to Rep. Alice Bordsen of Mebane, who
sponsored the bill. In the letter, Perry expresses the commission's
"strong opposition" to the bill.

The bill, prompted by the arrest of dozens of students in a February
2004 undercover drug bust in the Alamance-Burlington schools, would
allow a person who was younger than 18 at the time of the offense to
have his or her record wiped clean, following some provisions.
Supporters of the bill say that it's important to provide youthful
offenders with an opportunity for redemption, an incentive to turn
their lives around.

"These are minors," Bordsen said. "People make mistakes when they are
minors. People do stupid things when they are minors." Brian Lewis of
the Covenant With North Carolina's Children said lawmakers will have
to decide if young people should get such a reward if they turn their
lives around.

"Or do they think this should follow their lives for 30 years?" Lewis
said. In his letter, Perry cautioned lawmakers about standards set for
law enforcement officers in the state, noting that one standard is
that a criminal justice officer cannot have been convicted of a
felony. Bordsen's bill "would not only allow such applicants to have a
single felony conviction expunged, but multiple felony convictions
could be expunged if the person is convicted in the same session of
court," Perry's letter says.

John Glenn, a former Burlington police chief who chairs the
commission, said the problem the commission had with the bill had to
do with who the state will allow to wear a police uniform.

"Do you want a police officer out there who has committed a felony?"
Glenn asked.

Bordsen said that in 47 states, where 16- and 17-yearolds are not
treated as adults in the court system, such records are already
expunged. Rep. Stephen LaRoque, RLenoir, said he opposes the bill. "If
you can't do the time, don't do the crime," he said. Lewis said that
supporters will check with members of the House Finance Committee --
where the bill now resides -- to gauge support. Glenn said that he
didn't have any qualms with Bordsen's intent with the bill. "It sounds
good and it's a dogood thing," he said. "She needs to narrow her scope
down a little bit more."

Under the bill, youthful offenders would not be able to get their
records wiped clean for more serious offenses, such as murder, rape,
kidnapping and large drug trafficking convictions. In addition,
violent acts and assaults or sex crimes would not qualify.