KEY ANTI-CRIME EFFORTS DESERVE COUNTY SUPPORT

Encouragingly, the Palm Beach County Commission may be starting to
think of crime prevention as an investment, not an expense.

Last week, commissioners pledged $1 million and offered the promise of
nearly $3 million more toward five programs that the Criminal Justice
Commission correctly believes assist law enforcement and save money by
reducing crime and attempting to rehabilitate nonviolent offenders.
The cost of these programs totals about $10.5 million. Some began with
grant money that has or will run out, and recent state budget cuts
also threaten the programs.

The emphasis is on prevention of juvenile crime. Nearly half of the
$10.5 million is to run the state Department of Juvenile Justice's
assessment center in West Palm Beach. At the facility, staffers can
quickly evaluate minors who have been arrested and determine whether
they need to be confined. If not, they can be identified as good
candidates for counseling. The benefits are many. Boys and girls who
may need minor guidance can get it. Space in the detention center can
be reserved for youths who could be a threat to the community. Police
officers don't have to waste time and can get back on patrol.

Another $640,000 pays for the successful Truancy Interdiction Program,
or TIP. When police officers see a boy or girl who should be in
school, they can take him or her to a TIP center. The idea is to find
out why the child is skipping school and determine ways to turn around
the behavior. By targeting locations near schools, police have cut
school-hour crime, such as shoplifting and burglary.

The other programs focus on high-crime areas in the county's poorest
neighborhoods. The community court gives those who have committed
minor crimes -- trespassing, drug possession -- a chance to avoid jail
time by working to improve the area, such as by cleaning streets. As
its name implies, Weed and Seed seeks to drive out the criminal
element and revive neighborhoods. The drug court offers addicts a
chance to get help before committing a serious crime.

State Attorney Barry Krischer supports creation of a criminal justice
tax district to pay for such programs. The county commission opposes
the idea. If that's the case, the commission then has to figure out
how to pay for the programs another way. First test? The Juvenile
Assessment Center may have to cut hours because of state cutbacks. If
that happens, find the money.