MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Memphis has a list of issues residents deal with daily. Decreasing crime is among the list and lawmakers across the state are working to find an answer to help the Bluff City.
State senator London Lamar was in town Saturday, meeting with neighbors to hopefully find solutions.
In attendance alongside Senator Lamar was Mayor of Memphis Paul Young, MPD Chief of Police CJ Davis and Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy, among other local leaders.
"We haven't had young people committing serious crimes as they are now as they have in the past,” Chief Davis said. “We haven't seen 12 and 13 and 14 year olds with guns in their hands. We've dealt with adults with guns in their hands"
The solution? Engaging with young people before they go down the wrong path.
“MSCS engages our young people from 7-3,” Young said. “I want to make sure that we are engaging them from 3-7.”
When it comes to the children who are already committing crimes, the state legislature is working to hold parents accountable.
“Right now, we have a bill going through the legislature that parents of children in their second major offense will be fined $1,000 per offense,” Lamar said.
Neighbors are just hopeful a solution can be created without damaging the future of young Memphians.
"Our perpetrators are young,” neighbor De Givens said. “They are, but they’re somebody's babies. They're your little cousins, my cousins, nieces, nephews. Is this where we want to send them? So, then that brings me to juvenile court what's happening? What’s happening in juvenile court? What is the Clerk doing? What is Judge Sugarmon doing? I’m not blaming them, but the system needs to be redone. It’s broken.”
These community discussions are an effort to improve the 901.
In the coming months, the Memphis Police Department is working to have neighborhood watch boot camps. They'll teach communities how to grow their own neighborhood watch group.
The idea got a lot of support from the Hickory Hill community at Saturday’s town hall.
Neighbors are hopeful the increased community engagement will be exactly what the city needs to handle the crime problem.