HR 9: Murders Motivate New State-wide Plan to Study Teen Violence

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The unprovoked murder of two teenagers at house parties in the Atlanta-area, is fueling a plan to study the causes of teen violence.  Georgia State Representative Roger Bruce has pre-filed a resolution at the Capitol calling for a Joint Teen Violence Study Commission.  The six-member commission will study teen violence and make recommendations to the legislature. Resolution HR9, calls for the Speaker of the House, the President of the Senate, and the Governor to each choose two members for the Commission, with a chair appointed by the Governor. Their mission will be to gather insight from experts in juvenile justice and child welfare as well as crime victims and teen perpetrators.

Prevention Group Works On ‘Battle Plan’ To Stop Deadly Teen Violence

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The violent deaths of two metro Atlanta teenagers a week apart – allegedly at the hands of peers – has sparked a debate among members of a local violence prevention organization. Members of the Metropolitan Atlanta Violence Prevention Partnership (MAVPP), discussed the tragedies, and more specifically how to thwart similar ones, during its monthly meeting this week. The partnership, a who’s who of more than 200 local violence prevention groups, boasts a diverse membership that spans the spectrum from the Emory (University) Injury Control Center (EICC) and the Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) Department of Community Health and Preventive Medicine to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center, local churches and law enforcement agencies. Attendees batted around an array of ideas Tuesday, including implementing large-scale community reform initiatives along with anger management counseling and expanded educational opportunities for young people and their parents. “I’d like to see more intervention aimed at the community,” says Shakiyla Smith, EICC deputy director.

Conyers Police Plan Zero Tolerance Crackdown at Big Teen Parties

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Two teenagers have died at large house parties that got violent with little warning in the last week.  The latest, in Conyers, Ga., where 18-year old Dequavious Mapp  was shot in the chest and died early Sunday morning.  One week earlier, 18-year old Bobby Tillman was beaten to death at a house party in Douglas County. Conyers Police Chief Gene Wilson has a new plan to break up parties that get out of control before someone gets hurt.  “I spoke to the sheriff and my staff.

Mom of Teen Beaten to Death Calls for Change in Juvenile Justice System

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The mother of 18-year-old Bobby Tillman, who was beaten to death after a house party early Sunday morning, is lobbying for tougher juvenile laws. Monique Rivarde tells WXIA she will campaign for a new law named after her son requiring mandatory counseling for teen offenders with tougher punishment for kids who keep getting in trouble. As for the four teens charged with murdering her son, she feels that it’s too late for them. In the wake of Tillman’s murder, more than 600 people attended a teen summit Thursday night in Douglassville to discuss ways to stop senseless violence in the community. The crowd included high school and college age kids along with school and law enforcement officials, according to the AJC.