Thread: Hispanic kids involved with crime on rise

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Hispanic kids involved with crime on rise
By Marissa Villa/Times Record News
February 21, 2006

When parents migrate from Mexico, the last thing they might expect is for their children to get involved in gangs or other crime, but often it happens.

In 2005, the Wichita County Juvenile Probation Department saw an increase in Hispanic criminal activity over 2004.

Though misdemeanor charges decreased from 45 in 2004 to 39 in 2005, the number of felony charges against Hispanics increased from 25 to 41.

Additionally, weapons charges against Hispanic juveniles tripled from five to 15.

However, it isn't just with Hispanics, said Chief Juvenile Probation Officer Kirk Wolfe.

"There's not any single reason," Wolfe said about why the numbers have increased.

He said referrals "come in waves" and some years are worse than others when it comes to kids and crime.

However, the ratio of Hispanics in the juvenile probation system to the number of Hispanics living in the city does not match up.

Wolfe said about 20 percent of the kids they see are Hispanic - compared to 14 percent of the total number of juveniles living in the city.

Joann Rivera Parker said she has also noticed an increase in Hispanic kids coming through the system.

"To me, that's kind of disheartening - kind of sad," Parker said.

Parker has worked in the department for two years but has worked for the county for almost 18 years.

Sometimes, she is called on to help translate for families that do not speak English.

"The family in Hispanic (culture) used to be so strong," she said. "That frightens me. There's a lot of dysfunction in families."

In fact, Wolfe said, that's one of the main reasons he thinks kids look to the gang lifestyle.

He said most people think of the Hispanic family as being tight-knit but that many of these kids confuse their lifestyle for their culture.

Being in a gang is not part of the Hispanic culture, he said.

"Being in a gang is not part of any culture. It's a sub-culture. Kids - whatever race you are - got to have guidance," Wolfe said.

But some kids get mixed up in gangs and start to treat that as if it is their culture, Parker said.

"A lot of these kids become Americanized, and they want to make the big bucks," she said. "I think they find that their pride in Hispanic heritage is pride in gangs - that's their heritage."

She said when some Hispanics come to the U.S., the "American dream" changes and now gang life is what American life is all about for some of these kids.

"The ideas and the hopes and the dreams that a child (has) for himself have changed," Parker said.

Wolfe said two probation officers are assigned to cases that are considered to be "intensive supervision" cases - the category which most gang-related cases fall into.

One of those probation officers is Adam DeHoyos.

Wolfe said DeHoyos was actually one of the kids he helped out as a probation officer years ago.

He said having probation officers who can relate help situations out because kids in the system need a role model.

"They don't have that father figure," Wolfe said. "They want it. You cannot tell me that they don't want a mama and a daddy. Everyone wants that. Unfortunately they don't (have it). They're searching for strong role models. They want a male to bond with."

And, he said, there is a bond with the probation officers.

He said it is important to remember that the kids coming through the juvenile detention/probation system are just that - kids.

Sometimes these kids commit very serious offenses, he said. The department is there to help them, while keeping the well-being of the community in mind."

"But if we can help make that kid make positive changes ..." he said, that would be in the best interest of that community.

"There's no easy solution to this," Wolfe said. "And it's certainly (not) something that the juvenile department can conquer on its own."

"We are seeing some good things," he said. "(But) there are some problems out there. These kids ... it starts young. God, it starts young."

When parents migrate from Mexico, the last thing they might expect is for their children to get involved in gangs or other crime, but often it happens.

When anyone immigrates from anywhere, whether it be Mexico or any other country, they should have the sense to realize that adjustments have to be made, especially with kids, and that they must work to assimilate into a common culture. Otherwise, the kids will segregate into their own ethnic social groups, which all too often means gangs.

Adjustment, and assimilation, is not easy, but for the family to enjoy the full benefits of the society they have chosen to immigrate to, they have to make the effort. When Hispanic groups insist on bilingual education and the teaching of Latino Culture in American schools, they are sending the wrong message to their own children. When adult immigrants themselves resist assimilation and resist learning the English language themselves, while at the same time expecting their kids to go to school, learn English, and earn a piece of the American Dream, the kids are getting mixed signals.

This problem is certainly not exclusive to Hispanic immigrants, the same problem exists to some degree in most if not all groups. And it is a problem that exists both among illegal aliens and legal immigrants.

Its all a question of individual responsibility, and one would think the adults, along with the advocacy groups, would recognize this.