MINUTES OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RESOURCES AND FACILITIES Sixty-eighth Session March 6, 1995 The Senate Committee on Human Resources and Facilities was called to order by Chairman Raymond D. Rawson, at 1:30 p.m., on Monday, March 6, 1995, in Room 226 of the Legislative Building, Carson City, Nevada. Exhibit A is the Agenda. Exhibit B is the Attendance Roster. COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT: Senator Raymond D. Rawson, Chairman Senator Sue Lowden, Vice Chairman Senator Maurice Washington Senator Kathy M. Augustine Senator Joseph M. Neal, Jr. Senator Bob Coffin Senator Bernice Mathews STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Kerry Carroll Davis, Senior Research Analyst Mary Gavin, Committee Secretary Judi Bishop, Primary Secretary to Senator Rawson OTHERS PRESENT: Brian Mattson, Research Associate of the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute of Behavioral Science, University of Colorado at Boulder Charlotte F. Stephens, Deputy Director Safe City Initiative, Denver Colorado Susana Hernandez, Student, Las Vegas High School Maret LoGiudice, Social Science and Government Instructor, Las Vegas High School Del Ray Martinez, Student, Las Vegas High School Karen Kotchka, School Mediation Specialist, Clark County Social Service, Neighborhood Justice Center Shannon West, Youth Mediation Specialist, Clark County Social Service, Neighborhood Justice Center Sean Bauman, Student, Carson High School Tiffany Mayes, Student, Carson City High School Adolpha Segura, Student, Carson High School Susan Mayes-Smith, Teacher, Washoe County School District Frank D. Meyers, Dean, College of Education, University of Nevada-Reno Chairman Rawson advised those in attendance the committee has worked with the Education Commission of the States to set up this special presentation on youth violence. He introduced the two principal speakers sponsored by the Education Commission of the States, Brian Mattson and Charlotte Stephens. Brian Mattson will be giving an overview on youth violence. He is a research associate at the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute of Behavioral Science, University of Colorado-Boulder (The Center), and a doctoral candidate in the Sociology Department at the university. His presentation will include homicide patterns and trends across the nation, the Rocky Mountain region and in Nevada. Mr. Mattson will also present recent homicide rates for Nevada. These rates focus on adolescent involvement in homicides and various demographic groupings of homicide offenders. Mr. Mattson advised handouts are available and will help fill in his presentation and answer any questions regarding youth violence and some of the activity in Colorado. The Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence has done two studies in Colorado in conjunction with the Colorado Department of Health. One of the handouts is entitled Violence in Colorado: A Focus on Homicide, 1976-1991. (Exhibit C. Original is on file in the Research Library.) There is also a handout of the slides he will be showing on Nevada homicide rates (Exhibit D). These documents are essentially the source of his presentation and show the trends and patterns occurring in homicide, not only for adolescents, but among families, acquaintances, partners and the like. These also show some of the caveats that go along with the data used to develop these figures. Recently, The Center, in combination with the Colorado Department of Health, put together a book, Violence in Colorado: Trends and Resources (Exhibit E. Original is on file in the Research Library.) which looks at different types of violence in the State of Colorado. It is source material for understanding the different forms of violence, but it also takes each county and provides rates by county of different forms of violence, such as suicide, child abuse, homicide, robbery and aggravated assault. It has been well received in Colorado, and Nevada may want to do something similar. Mr. Mattson continued by saying the Director for The Center, Delbert Elliott, wrote a very brief paper (Exhibit F) on Youth Violence: An Overview, which is a real body of knowledge; it is brief and summarizes everything. Another handout is CSPV Overview and Report of Progress (Exhibit G). Mr. Mattson advised although The Center is in Colorado, they are readily accessible to Nevada to ascertain what the status is on different forms of violence. The Center is taking the academic knowledge and bridging the gap between practitioners and policymakers to try and help form an understanding of what is going on with violence. The Center has extensive resources which are very valuable, and Exhibit G sets forth these resources and the strengths they provide. These are readily accessible to Nevada. Another handout is What Works in Reducing Adolescent Violence: An Empirical Review of the Field (Exhibit H. Original is on file in the Research Library). This publication addresses violence prevention, what is known, what is unknown and what further information is needed. It is a national perspective and very informative. The last handout was developed by The Center and is entitled Understanding and Preventing Violence (Exhibit I). It is a valuable publication and provides sources for information quickly and easily. The chairman advised the National Conference of Christians and Jews has put together a community-wide coalition of various religious groups in southern Nevada, and those groups are having a number of retreats on the subject of violence. The committee would like to share with them some of our views and concerns and some of the exhibits which have been presented here today. This is an issue of concern to all the communities in Nevada. Many people are working on these issues right now, and the committee will furnish them with copies of the appropriate handouts. Mr. Mattson then presented a series of slides (Exhibit D) developed by The Center on violence in general, covering essentially some of the statistics on homicide in Colorado and the results of some preliminary research done on similar rates for Nevada. The Center has tied this in with some National Youth Survey statistics which relate more to causal issues of youth violence. Other than the National Youth Survey data, much is official data on homicide. The Nevada rates presented cover the years 1979 through 1981, 1990 through 1992. The result looks as if there is a trend going from the early 1980's to the 1990's, which is inaccurate. The trend actually fluctuates up and down during those years not graphed. From this, it will be possible to get a sense of changes in rates and patterns in general, and Mr. Mattson asked the committee to keep this in mind. Mr. Mattson then gave his slide presentation on Nevada (Exhibit D) showing (1) Nevada's ranking in prevalence rates in violent crime, homicide, robbery, aggravated assault and rape as compared to the other Rocky Mountain states of Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming, (2) Nevada Homicide Trends by Age, (3) Nevada Homicide Trends, Total and Adolescent, (4) Nevada Homicide Trends by Offenders' Gender, (5) Nevada Homicide Trends by Victims' Gender, (6) Nevada Homicide Trends by Victims' Race, (7) Nevada Homicide Trends by Offenders' Race, and (8) Nevada Homicide Trends by Victim/Offender Relationship. Some slides also indicated the relationship of the use of handguns to homicide incidence, both in Colorado and Nevada, the use of drugs, the gender, age, racial background, peer pressure and other factors relating to users of handguns and the correlation of the use of handguns to the use of drugs. At the end of the slide presentation, the committee members asked questions regarding the effect of parental approval and/or disapproval on youth violence and the use of drugs, with the conclusion that if parents disapprove, it is evident in the youths' behavior. The committee then asked for clarification regarding Exhibit D, Nevada Homicide Rates, specifically page 1, which shows Nevada's ranking in violent crime, homicide, robbery, aggravated assault and rape as compared to the other Rocky Mountain states in the survey. Mr. Mattson asked that the first column be disregarded, and pointed out the ranking is shown to the right of the state name. He also explained the lowest ranked number indicates the highest ranked among the region. For instance, Nevada is shown as ranking number 5, the lowest ranked number in the incidence of rape, which indicates it is number 1 in the Rocky Mountain region. The chairman asked if the Montana rankings are a reflection of the rurality of the area and sparse population. Mr. Mattson said the rurality factor may play a part in facilitating different types of relationships, but the population would not affect the rankings. People could be spread over a larger area, but the actual number of people in the area would be accounted for by the rate process. What makes the difference in ranking between Nevada and other rural states in the survey was discussed, and Mr. Mattson said the difference has not been investigated. The chairman asked Mr. Mattson why the rates were higher in the early 1980's than they are now. He advised he did not have the answer to that question. The chairman explained because of the time span of 13 to 15 years, there is a very precipitous fall from 1981 to 1990 which looks very dramatic. If spread over the 10 years, it is a constant decline. The chairman then asked what is known about the period from 1981 to 1990 that produced the dramatic decline in almost all the statistics? He wondered if since this was the period of great expenditure on the war on drugs, if that was responsible for the dramatic decline in almost all of the statistics presented. Senator Neal commented on the cause of the fluctuations and wondered if there was any importance in determining the causes of these trends and asked what the committee is to learn from this. Mr. Mattson stated he feels the greatest value of work of this nature is to isolate the violence factors. The most serious violence is perpetrated by about 6 percent of any youth population, and 6 percent may make up as much as 50 percent of serious violent offenses. He stated the gist of what he was trying to get across to the committee is that the survey is targeting specific age groups for specific times. It is just a preliminary step in understanding what brings about a reduction in violence. Certainly, causal issues are addressed and are part of the picture. He continued by saying this is predominantly a youth involvement issue. When youths are involved in violence, they are typically involved with handguns. Most importantly, if we wait until youths are into their teens, it appears too late to start teaching skills that may keep youths out of a life of crime. Senator Neal asked about school involvement in prevention of violence. Mr. Mattson said it is one of the factors that could play a large part in prevention, especially by the example of teachers, peers and parents. Senator Coffin said basically what is being talked about is character development. Mr. Mattson agreed. Senator Neal said parental involvement would diminish as time went on, and there would be other factors influencing a young person a parent might not be aware of such as television, magazines and so forth. Mr. Mattson agreed. Senator Augustine suggested discipline as a deterrent. Mr. Mattson said discipline, parental sanctions and positive peer association appear to drive down the involvement in serious forms of violence. Senator Augustine asked when The Center would have current statistics, since the survey goes only to 1992. Mr. Mattson advised he is working on current statistics, which will be available soon. Senator Augustine mentioned the National Rifle Association ran a lot of their statistics, and she would be interested to see how those figures compare to The Center's. Senator Washington asked if any studies had been done on the increase or decrease in violent crimes or homicide if there is only one parent in the home, rather than a two-parent home. Mr. Mattson advised no such survey has been done, but suggested a call to The Center to a survey on this subject. Senator Washington asked if they could include race and gender. Mr. Mattson thought those factors could be included. The chairman said the committee would follow up with a letter or phone call to The Center. The chairman thanked Mr. Mattson for his presentation, and advised him the committee might want to talk with him again after the members had a chance to review the literature. Mr. Mattson said he would be available, and for the committee to feel free to do so, and to use The Center for any other inquiries into this topic. The Center has an enormous amount of valuable information available. The chairman then introduced Charlotte F. Stephens, Assistant to Denver Mayor Wellington E. Webb and Deputy Director of the mayor's Safe City Initiatives Office since its inception in 1994. As deputy director, she oversees the coordination of safety and crime issues as they pertain to youth violence and prevention. Among these functions are the mayor's job program for youth, the after-school program in the city's middle schools and a new citywide juvenile curfew and diversion program. She stated she would describe Denver Mayor Wellington E. Webb's safe-city initiatives, focusing on the elements necessary to make such programs effective. She continued that the presentation would also share the strategies for engaging and involving the community and conclude with policy implications, key learnings and advice to others who are interested in implementing similar activities. Ms. Stephens identified her presentation materials which had previously been given to committee members in a blue folder. In the left-hand side of the folder, the first item is a newsletter (Exhibit J) entitled The Safe City Summit Update, which is an ongoing form of communication used throughout the Safe-City Summit effort. This is just an example of this ongoing publication. The second item is a small pamphlet (Exhibit K) entitled Community Recreation, explaining Denver's recreation program. The third is a pamphlet entitled S.O.A.R. with the Rockies (Exhibit L), which she said would be explained during her presentation. The fourth item is a copy of her presentation (Exhibit M). The fifth item (Exhibit N) is entitled Denver's Curfew Law Enforcement Fact Sheet. The first item In the right-hand side of the folder (Exhibit O) is a status sheet entitled Safe City Summit Final Recommendations, which she stated she would explain in detail during her presentation. The second item (Exhibit P) is a publication is entitled The Mayor's 1995 Safe City Summer Youth Employment Initiative. Ms. Stephens advised personnel from the mayor's office have worked extensively with Brian Mattson and Delbert Elliott of The Center in doing research on youth violence. In 1993, the Safe City Summit process was initiated due to Denver's skyrocketing violence rates. Ms. Stephens talked about drive-by shootings in the middle of the city, and specifically the death of a 4-year- old killed by a drive-by shooting while the mother was pushing him through the city zoo. This incident brought violence by and against youth into sharp focus, and the summit was put together. Ms. Stephens said in Denver, the general impression of gang members was that they were dumb, stupid people. According to Denver's intelligence agency, the facts were quite to the contrary. Many of the gang leaders who were coming into Denver from California were very intelligent, charismatic people. As a community, the people of Denver want to protect their children. The intent and policies of the Safe City Summit were developed to protect the 95 percent of the youth of Denver known as "good youth." At that time, the mayor used a club and a velvet hand and 26 new police officers were put on the street at a cost of approximately $1.2 million. The 911 operators were increased, expansion of the jail capacity was implemented, and the juvenile courts were restructured. The residents made sure while the police were arresting the "bad guys," their "good youth" could still drive up and down the street. However, she reported the gang members started recruiting among the "good youth" to increase their numbers. Every effort was made by the residents to prevent this activity. Ms. Stephens started to give her prepared presentation (Exhibit M) on the Denver Safe City Summit Initiative (Exhibit P), but was more comfortable speaking from experience and memory, and said the explanation and accomplishments of the Denver Safe City Summit could be found in her text, along with recommendations for success, should any city or state wish to initiate such a program. Ms. Stephens said this program has been very successful because meetings were held in every part of Denver with intense participation by its residents. It was assumed these problems originated in the low-income neighborhoods, but the Safe City Summit was able to show this to be a citywide problem. Denver knew it had a problem when in 1991 and 1992, police department statistics showed 4,800 youngsters under the age of 18 had crimes committed against them by youth who were under the age of 18. The problem actually preceded 1991, because in 1989 and 1990 there were rumblings about gangs in Denver. It took the 1993 incident of the death of the little boy to galvanize the whole community against violent crimes committed by youths. The police and the mayor's office were aware also of the fact that crimes were being committed by youths against Denver residents coming into the city proper from the suburbs. Senator Lowden asked Ms. Stephens to describe the cost of each of the programs initiated by Denver, when the 26 police officers were hired and when the 911 operators were increased. Ms. Stephens advised the City of Denver considered this a top priority and went into its reserves and restructured the budget for the $1.2 million needed for the additional police and the expansion of 911 operators. Denver took existing funds from its reserve account; no bonds or taxes were required. Senator Washington noted Ms. Stephens had mentioned no particular area in Denver was designated as a ghetto. He feels the same situation exists in Reno; no area is designated as a ghetto. He was impressed by her statement the incident galvanized all residents of Denver; it cut across social lines and racial lines, and he felt the same scenario exists in Reno, even down to a drive-by shooting of a baby shot in the head. The senator remarked while Ms. Stephens was talking of city problems, she was addressing state officials, and he wanted to know what could be done to implement some of the programs she had mentioned on a statewide basis. Ms. Stephens said the state could adopt the curfew program. Many of the cities in Colorado came together, and legislation was enacted so curfews in these cities are all the same time. Ms. Stephens directed the committee's attention to Major Accomplishments, item 2, of her presentation (Exhibit M), explaining the curfew program was modeled after the program used by the City of Phoenix. Three curfew centers were set up in recreation centers as a tool for the police department. Youths out after curfew are picked up by a patrolling police officer and taken to the recreation center. There is a staff in each recreation center of two police officers and counselors. The police officers check the records, do the ticketing and call the parents. There initially was resistance to the curfew program by youths under 18 years of age who couldn't understand why there had to be a curfew program. Ms. Stephens reported an incident just occurred where a 16-year- old shot a Denver police officer at 4:00 a.m. in one of the suburbs about 30 miles away from Denver. What the curfew does do is target youth under the age of 18, who are out at 4:00 a.m. in the morning and carrying handguns, and this program can be used throughout the state. Senator Coffin advised he is having curfew problems in his household and is imposing sanctions. Ms. Stephens explained the Denver curfew program of also imposing sanctions, such as fining parents and any business establishment allowing youths to hang around after curfew hours. On the first offense, there is a right of appeal, and/or the fine can be waived in lieu of successful completion of 20 hours of community service in addition to attendance at parenting classes or other classes offered by the city. The fine is increased the second time. This is a collaborative effort between the police department, the parks and recreation department, the juvenile courts and the district court, social services and the probation department. Ms. Stephens then referred the committee to item 3 of her presentation (Exhibit M), regarding jobs, which are so necessary for youth after school and during the summer months. In 1994, the mayor developed a program which employed 200 youths in city agencies. Under the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA), which is federally funded, 1,200 jobs were provided. Ms. Stephens then talked about item 4 of her presentation (Exhibit M), which covers after-school and summer programs for the youth of Denver. Programs such as education and tutoring have served to reduce some of the violence in the area. These programs are designed to fill in the gaps left by the Denver public schools. Ms. Stephens continued to speak about the programs implemented for students, noting that prior to 1994 in the public schools there were no after-school recreation programs for middle-school students in the Denver area. These programs resulted in a reduction in the number of young people having problems and grades have actually improved. For the traditional neighborhood watch program, item 6, page 3, of Exhibit M, Ms. Stephens advised that rather than using police for this program, the city hired "civilians" because there had been some negative reaction to police involvement. The program has been very successful. Ms. Stephens then talked about P.A.C.T, Pulling America's Communities Together, item 8 of her presentation (Exhibit M), which is a project organized by Janet Reno, Attorney General of the United States, at four sites throughout the United States; those being, the State of Nebraska, Denver, Atlanta and Washington, D.C. By having these areas work together and share resources and experiences, the city of Denver has been able to establish curfew rules through their metropolitan area and has been successful in bringing in funding to assist with the technologies and expertise needed to assist the Denver Police Department. Ms. Stephens then summed up by saying in order to achieve success with the many Denver programs, the city has had to be realistic and listen to what residents of the area had to say about the youth programs and be prepared to make changes. Communication is of utmost importance in keeping residents and news media informed of the ongoing or proposed programs. The whole program, the Denver Safe City Initiative, is a community policing effort of people working hand-in-hand with their police department and other law enforcement agencies. Senator Lowden asked if Denver has double session or year-round schools or are all schools on the same schedule? Ms. Stephens said it is a mixture of all programs in both the private and public schools. Senator Lowden asked how they are able to have all the special programs with this mixture because they are badly needed in Las Vegas. Ms. Stephens then explained Denver handles this problem by making the programs available at the times needed and in the locations needed. Senator Augustine asked about the Job Training Partnership Act and if Denver finds most teens want to go out and earn money, or do they have to be pushed? Ms. Stephens said at the outset of JTPA for 200 jobs, 800 applications were received. She feels the majority of young people want to work, once they get over the idea they can start out as executives. She added that the age range in JTPA is 14 to 18 years. Senator Neal said from Ms. Stephen's presentation, he can see that the City of Denver is making a special effort to include people, both kids and grownups, in their efforts. He feels it is very important to keep people informed so they feel like they are a part of the action. Ms. Stephens said inclusion was always a part of the city's policy. Senator Neal asked for Ms. Stephens suggestions for getting cooperation from all segments of society in the Las Vegas community regarding recruitment by gang leaders in the area. Ms. Stephens said the young people will go wherever the money is and where the action is, so Denver makes sure they provide for them by way of jobs and recreation facilities. Senator Mathews added there are similar programs in Reno regarding community policing, and they have been very successful. Chairman Rawson thanked Ms. Stephens and asked her if she would be available to do another presentation in Las Vegas. She agreed to do so. Susana Hernandez, Student, representing Las Vegas High School, spoke on school violence from a prepared text (Exhibit Q). This text was called The Art of Teaching Peace, Peer Mediation, A solution to Violence in Schools, prepared for the Nevada Youth Summit on Violence. The authors were Susana Hernandez and Del Ray Martinez. Ms. Hernandez described the increase in school violence at Las Vegas High School, and the skills used to solve this problem through peer mediation and the Title XX funds available to them for this purpose. Senator Neal commented on the text and the fact that cameras, locker searches and alternative schools only treat the symptoms, not the causes, of violence in the schools. Ms. Hernandez pointed out with peer mediation, the students get to talk out the problems creating the conflicts. With alternative schools, the students are just put somewhere else, without any resolution of their problems. Under the peer mediation process, the problem is addressed, and the student learns how to deal with it the next time it arises. Senator Neal asked what it is about peer mediation that causes the decrease in violence, as stated in her presentation. Maret LoGiudice, Social Science and Government Instructor, Las Vegas High School, said she is involved with peer mediation and feels such an approach gives the student confidence. When peer mediation does take place, teachers are not directly involved. This is a one-on-one approach between the students, and there is no threat of an adult hovering around them. Under this approach, the student feels he or she has self-worth, and they are able to take care of a problem themselves, if and when the problem comes up again. Ms. LoGiudice advised Las Vegas High School has some 2,600 students, and it is the only high school in Las Vegas with a peer mediation program. Las Vegas High School presently has 36 peer mediators, and they are chosen by those teachers involved in the mediation process. Del Ray Martinez, Student, Las Vegas High School, and coauthor of Exhibit Q, explained what happens in the peer mediation process. The two students involved in the problem and two mediators get together in a room. There is also an adult observer. Each student involved gives his or her version of the incident, so the mediators hear both sides. The students then come up with a solution they can agree on. They determine this solution themselves. The students then sign a contract. This generally stops the problem. However, if there is a recurrence, the students are referred to a Required Parent Conference (RPC). This is a conference between the deans, the students and the parents. The students are suspended until this conference takes place, and then readmitted after a solution is reached. The mediation process does help to decrease the high level of violence at Las Vegas High School where there are 20 mediations a week. Senator Neal asked Ms. LoGiudice what process is used to select the mediators. Ms. LoGiudice said personally she looks for a responsible, level-headed person; someone open to new ideas and someone with strong character and good values. There are no specific guidelines for selecting mediators. She stated it is not necessary to have the academically superior student, only someone who can relate to other students, whether regular students or problem students. Senator Neal wondered if a student can volunteer to be a mediator. Ms. LoGiudice said this is the type of individual they seek; someone who wants to help the school community. Senator Neal asked what types of disputes the students are allowed to mediate. Ms. Hernandez said anywhere from verbal arguments, gossip, student-teacher disputes and the like. However, when a physical dispute is involved, the students are automatically suspended. An RPC follows, and the problem is mediated after the conference. Senator Neal inquired as to how the mediators are selected for the 20 mediations each week. Ms. Hernandez said a specific teacher sets up all the mediations. The teacher will select the mediators from the list, making sure the mediators are not friends with the disputants. Senator Lowden complimented Ms. Hernandez and Ms. Martinez on their presentation. She asked how they get one student to open up to another in front of the mediator. Ms. LoGiudice said they have not had any problem with this because it is handled as a problem-solving situation, rather than a confrontational situation. The mediator is there to facilitate communication, but does not actively participate in the mediation process. Senator Augustine asked the grade levels of the two testifying students and if mediators run from 9th to 12th grade. Ms. Hernandez said she is a senior and Ms. Martinez is a sophomore, and mediators do run from 9th to 12th grade. The mediators are almost evenly divided between male and female. Chairman Rawson said the mediation process is good because it does not set up a confrontation. He also complimented the students on their presentation. He asked if another presentation could be made in the Las Vegas area, and Ms. Hernandez, Ms. Martinez and Ms. LoGiudice agreed it could. Karen Kotchka, School Mediation Specialist, Clark County Social Service, Neighborhood Justice Center (NJC), testified the NJC is implementing the peer mediation program at Las Vegas High School, and she can answer questions about that specific program. The program is being administered through the Department of Justice grant through the Office of Juvenile Justice, and is in coordination with Family & Youth Services, which has a truancy prevention project, and the peer mediation program has been added as part of their truancy prevention program. At the NJC, programs have been implemented at 15 schools in 1995. Thirteen of those are elementary schools, one is a middle school and one is a high school; namely, Las Vegas High School. Ms. Kotchka stated the strength of their program is that this issue is being addressed from a very young age, and their program involves training the parents, the staffs in the schools and the mediators. The students, as a result of the peer mediation program, become transformed in their own minds into problem solvers. As a result, there is now less violence and less tolerance for violence in the schools through the mediation program. Ms. Kotchka went on with statistics regarding the results of the NJC program at Las Vegas High School. Starting at the beginning of December, 1994, they trained 32 student mediators from all grade levels. This group started mediating just before the Christmas break. As of February 9, 1995, they had 15 mediations in the first month and 14 came to a positive resolution. There was only one case that could not be resolved. The cases involved name calling, rumors, harassment, arguments, threats, insults, throwing things in the classroom from one student to another. These are the kinds of things with which the mediators are dealing. Actual physical fights are handled as outlined by Ms. Hernandez. The program has been very successful at Las Vegas High School. In other schools, the rate of positive resolution in the cases mediated has been around 86 to 87 percent. . Shannon West, Youth Mediation Specialist, Clark County Social Service, Neighborhood Justice Center in the Culture of Peace Project, was introduced by Ms. Kotchka, advising Ms. West works with a special project dealing specifically with at-risk youths, not necessarily in the schools, but the at-risk situations in Clark County. Ms. West testified that because peer mediation in the schools does not reach all at-risk youth in Clark County, a Conflict Resolution Training Program (Exhibit R) has been developed by the Culture of Peace for at-risk youth. Currently, it is being presented in five communities: West Las Vegas, the area in the 89109 zip code, East Las Vegas, Meadows Village and the North Las Vegas city center areas. This is a 4-hour training program, given in 2-hour segments on consecutive days. This training program is outlined on page 2 of Exhibit R. The focus of the program is to give youths skills so they can independently solve personal problems. Ms. West commented further that since last October, in all the areas of presentation, some 200 youths have participated. Each has gone through the training program. The Culture for Peace works through community organizations which may not have the funds for a trainer for the program, such as The Center for Independent Living or the Boys & Girls Club in North Las Vegas. This program is funded by the county development block grant. There is a great need for this program in the Las Vegas area, and it has been successful in reducing violence in the inner city. Senator Neal asked what method is being used to determine the cost effectiveness of this program. Ms. West answered once the program is initiated at a school, the school can continue the program without any further funding. Only start-up costs are involved. Broken down per pupil cost, at Las Vegas High School the mediation program costs $5 per student. For that amount, students in the school can have mediation services whenever they need it. Sean Bauman, Student, Carson High School, said it was unclear to him from the testimony which race and which gender is most involved in violent crime. He said since most perpetrators of violent crime do not get caught, he does not understand how such statistics could be compiled nor why the time and money is being spent to decide which race or gender is involved. Chairman Rawson replied that most of the decisions made are probably financial decisions and when a certain program is being funded, it must be ascertained that a problem really exists and where it exists. The resources can then be directed at the source of the problem. Mr. Bauman indicated psychological programs for first-time offenders would be helpful, instead of placing offenders in juvenile jails where there is a lot of violence. He felt peer mediation would be very helpful before a juvenile jail was considered. He suggested family history be taken into consideration because parents are often poor role models and give bad examples to their children, so those children do not know any better. The chairman thanked Mr. Bauman for his testimony, and commented it is known prisons do not rehabilitate people; they warehouse people. The program at Las Vegas High School is trying to keep more people out of jails by solving problems early on, and this is very encouraging. Mr. Bauman then mentioned a program at Carson Juvenile Hall designed to help juveniles. It is a peer mediation program, and Mr. Bauman asked if the committee would consider a contribution to that program. Chairman Rawson requested additional information about the program be submitted to the committee by someone in charge of program, such as how it is funded, who supervises the program and things like that. Consideration will be given when this information is received and reviewed. Tiffany Mayes, Student, Carson City High School, said she is 16 years old and was most interested in the presentations on peer mediation. She stated Carson City needs after-school recreation and work programs for students because there is too much slack time for them to get into trouble. Further, after- school recreation programs for middle-school children are greatly needed for grades 6 through 8, and also counseling programs for children with problems in this age group. Ms. Mayes felt these suggestions, while they will not solve the problem, might diminish youth violence in the community. Ms. Mayes said she works on a part-time basis after school with latchkey kids and with a program at the high school called Natural Helpers, a mediation program. Adolfo Segura, Hispanic Services, Carson High School, stated the Hispanics have a Hispanic Leadership Club at the high school. The members are trying to break down the barriers between the Anglo and Hispanic communities and people of different cultures. They do volunteer work and everybody helps each other. Chairman Rawson commented service tends to break down barriers between people and suggested perhaps service opportunities, such as latchkey, might open doors for Hispanic youth. Ways must be found to help each other by communicating, learning the languages and customs and mediating problems. The chairman advised the Senate would work with youth, school leaders and community leaders to develop opportunities for high school students to serve the community and each other and to develop more rapport and camaraderie between all the students. Susan Mayes-Smith, English as a Second Language Teacher, Washoe County School District, said in addition to her primary job, she has been doing staff development, student training, conflict resolution and peer mediation for the past 2 years. She also teaches in the violence intervention program on Thursday nights. The Washoe County School District funds a program for students and their parents for students who have been referred as a result of suspension from school for 10 days for a violent act. Part of this suspension can be waived if the student and the parents choose to attend the four-part class together. Ms. Mayes-Smith said she teaches conflict resolution in that program. Further, she stated site-based programs, although not funded by the district, have been very successful in peer mediation. Ms. Mayes-Smith asked for support of the peer mediation program in Washoe County and recognition of not only the success of peer mediation at sites, but also the potential for community-based mediation centers. Ms. Mayes-Smith stated Washoe County has not had the opportunity to establish a community justice center through legislative action, such as the one established through legislative action in Clark County. In Clark County, part of their funds were secured by legislation. Ms. Mayes-Smith continued by saying there are plans and ideas for establishing a community justice center in Washoe County, but no funding is available. There are over 70 schools in the district, with between 20 and 25 elementary school having peer mediation programs. There are 10 middle schools, with 8 having peer mediation. She said there are no high school peer mediation programs in Washoe County because they are so labor- intensive. The programs in place at the present time in Washoe County are the result of the dedication of teachers or counselors. Fortunately, there are volunteers on site at the different schools who have made those programs successful. Ms. Mayes-Smith stressed there is need for support at those different sites, and the idea for a youth mediation services project has been proposed, modeled after the one in Boulder City. It is a community-based program, and Washoe County hopes through the establishment and success of this program, supporters will feel it is worthwhile to establish such a program at the high schools. She stated research of ongoing programs nationwide shows the cost effectiveness includes less money down the road in social services and fewer court costs. This program is being presented on March 7, 1995, before the Coalition of Block Grants where $40,000 is being requested, with another $10,000 needed for the success of this project. Children's Cabinet has agreed to administer the program in collaboration with The Center for Dispute Resolution in Reno. Ms. Mayes-Smith asks the Legislature to look at possible ways in the future to contribute to some of these grass-root efforts which are completely dependent upon grants. She asks the Legislature's interest in appropriating funds in some capacity for mediation services, conflict resolution training for parents, youths and families, not just at school sites, but at the community levels as well. Further, she advised the family resource centers and community centers will have a bill coming before the Legislature for consideration concerning mediation services at community centers. She said it is very possible what she is proposing, in collaboration with Children's Cabinet, could serve as a foundation for those kinds of services, as well as family classes in anger management and responding to conflict in a positive manner. She asks the committee to listen and think of creative ways state funds could go to help support grant-funded programs. Frank D. Meyers, Dean, College of Education, University of Nevada-Reno, submitted a portfolio of educational materials related to youth violence to the committee. (Exhibit S. Original is on file in the research library.) There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:25 p.m. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, ____________________________ _ Mary Gavin, Committee Secretary APPROVED BY: _____________________________________ Senator Raymond D. Rawson, Chairman DATE: ____________________________________ Senate Committee on Human Resources and Facilities March 6, 1995 Page