The young hide their crimes better
Re “It’s a crime how we misjudge the young,” Opinion, Sept. 17
Statistics like these are insignificant unless the under-40-year-old group is also asked: How likely is it that you would report criminal activity to the police?
Having lived in a lower-class neighborhood for 30 years and taught in its local public schools, I can assure you that most youth wouldn’t be caught dead reporting a crime to the police.
Police are considered the enemy, outside intruders and insensitive bureaucrats. One reason there is so much criminal activity is that youth not only do not report crime, they also take care of the problem themselves through further criminal activity.
It’s not that there is less criminal activity among the youth, it is that there less reported criminal activity.
CAROLYN RIOS
Venice
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