Community leaders, law enforcement, clergy, parole and probation officers, and local politicians attended a youth violence community forum held at the Pine Bluff Convention Center Tuesday night that was hosted by youth violence experts Robert “Bob” Bermingham, Michelle Darling, and John A. Tuell.
The three experts are from Virginia and Delaware, and have 98 years of combined experience working in the field of Juvenile Justice.
Bermingham, who has over 30 years in the juvenile justice system, was very blunt in his presentation regarding what is needed to combat juvenile violence.
One key point he made was that in order to combat a problem you must first admit there is a problem. He said that when it comes to gang activity many politicians are slow to want to admit they have a problem.
Bermingham said that you can’t arrest your way out of gang issues, and that it will take more than just law enforcement to battle the issue. It will take a community effort.
He also said that in order for things to work the egos of those working on the issues must be left at the door.
Darling, who has over 20 years of experience in the juvenile justice system says that you must have the proper definitions for the type of gangs you’re dealing with, and finding out the things juveniles and families need to keep them away from gang action.
She also spoke about how soon she and her colleagues saw results when their plan was implemented in Delaware.
All of the experts drove home the point that funding and support are required from everyone within the community in order to combat any kind of gang violence within their communities.
