HAGATNA, Guam (AP)\u2014Lawmakers in Guam will be voting this week on a legislation aiming to reduce juvenile delinquency with counseling and mediation.<\/p>\n
The bill aims to prevent youth from getting caught in a cycle of crime, said Speaker Judith Won Pat who leads the sole chamber in Guam\u2019s unicameral legislature.<\/p>\n
Justice is not simply punishment, Won Pat said in her weekly address, the Pacific Daily News reported. Justice must be holistic and effective, especially when dealing with juveniles, she said.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not a new approach for Guam, Won Pat said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur Chamoru ancestors resolved conflicts and decided punishment within the family. In fact, a deep reverence for one\u2019s family often prevented people from committing crime,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Chief Justice Robert Torres last week said in his State of the Judiciary address that the courts present Guam \u201cwith arguably the greatest opportunity to really change lives and reverse the increasing crime rate in our island home.\u201d<\/p>\n
The chief justice said locking up juvenile offenders likely doesn\u2019t decrease criminality, but rather increases it.<\/p>\n
Torres promoted Guam\u2019s already successful approaches of mental health and substance abuse counseling as well as anger management and family counseling.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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