Parents Go on the Offensive Against Violent Youths : Justice system: Couple lead grass-roots movement to push for stiffer punishment for young offenders. Their son, 16, was shot near El Toro High School.

The parents of a South County teen-ager critically wounded in a drive-by shooting said Friday that they are fed up with youth violence and are organizing a campaign to push for harsh punishment for the youths who shot their son as well as for other juvenile offenders.

Huddled against a steady rain near the Orange County Juvenile Hall building, Jeff and Karen Lott of Lake Forest said their 16-year-old son’s struggle to recover from a shooting near El Toro High School last year prompted them to contact other parents to jointly urge prosecutors and the juvenile courts to impose strong penalties against violent youths.

The parents, along with a civil attorney, are forming a “Green Ribbon Campaign” to “let people know we are tired of the heinous acts perpetrated against youngsters in our community,” Jeff Lott said.

“We have to let the families, the (district attorneys), the courts know we are tired of (the violence) and something must be done about it,” said the retired Marine Corps lieutenant colonel.

They said the group hopes to prompt discussion of juvenile violence and punishment among legislators, school and court officials. The Lotts, who said they are still discussing how to organize the campaign, hope that the group will grow throughout Orange County as a symbol of anger over juvenile violence.

Four male juveniles--three from Hacienda Heights and one from Lake Forest--were arrested and have been charged with attempted murder in connection with the Nov. 4 shooting of Philip Lott, Assistant Dist. Atty. James P. Marion said. The four were being held in Juvenile Hall Friday, awaiting trial, Marion said.

Friends of Philip Lott said a fight at a Halloween party prompted the shooting, which left the teen-ager with severe intestinal damage and shattered bones in his leg. Philip Lott was at home Friday.

Many of the approximately 50 men and women who attended the announcement of the campaign pinned its symbol, a small green ribbon, on their shirts and jackets.

The campaign has started at the grass-roots level as several parents, some of whom have seen their children hurt or killed by other juveniles, exchanged names and phone numbers Friday.

Among the parents was Linda Smith, whose 14-year-old son Nicholas was shot in the head and killed in Huntington Beach last month. An 18-year-old from Huntington Beach was charged this week in that killing.

“This violence has just got to stop,” she said. “I am not going to let this rest.”

Others said they came to lend support because they want to help prompt safety for their children.

Leslie Carretti is raising four children, ages 8 to 22 years, in Mission Viejo. “I came out because I have children and I think it is important that mothers and parents support each other,” she said.

Frustration and anxiety among parents like Carretti and the Lotts has built against a background of rising juvenile violence in Orange County, which is following a nationwide trend.

Violent crime by youths under 18 has increased 44.6% in the county over the past decade. In 1989 alone, more than 70,000 juveniles were tried for violent crimes, according to a national juvenile research center in Pennsylvania.

The Lotts said they will discuss further plans for their campaign this weekend. Karen Lott started the campaign by photocopying letters and sending them throughout the county recently.

“Please . . . join me by sending green ribbons to your elected representatives, to your friends, to the members of your church--to anyone who wants to help make a difference, who wants to help make the world a little safer . . . a little saner,” part of the one-page letter read.

Attorney Shawn Steel of Westminster said people interested in the campaign should call him at (714) 551-9000.