Dearborn Police Chief Ron Haddad.

DEARBORN —Police Chief Ron Haddad distributed a letter last week describing current crime trends in Dearborn among minors and young adults in hopes of reaching out to local parents and legal guardians to educate them on possible consequences.

In the letter, Chief Haddad noted that overall crime rates in the city had fallen about 10 percent in 2013.  However, shoplifting at local retail stores remains a persistent issue, particularly amongst teens and young adults under the age of 21.

A charge of this nature would usually result in an arrest, fines, and possible jail time. However, a young adult who commits a larceny act could end up paying more for it in the long run. 

When applying for jobs, enlisting in the military, filling out college applications, or joining civic organizations, the offense could end up on a person’s permanent record. It forces the individual to continuously provide explanations, which could negatively impact chances of getting a position.

“These explanations could continue well into adulthood, depending on the career-life path the young adult chooses, and could impact negatively upon their being considered for the position they are applying for. First impressions are important, one single moment of indiscretion and poor decisionmaking could cause a lifetime of regret,” Haddad says in the letter.

In 2013, areas that continued to see trends of heavy shop lifting included the plaza on Ford Rd, just east of Southfield freeway, which houses major retail chains that include Walmart and Home Depot. Across the street is another major plaza, Fairlane Meadows, which includes a Best Buy and Target. It is also a common area for larceny. 

Dearborn Police officers are also often arresting young drivers for committing misdemeanor offenses while on the road. Often times, driving under the influence of alcohol, possession of marijuana, open intoxicants or prescription pill abuse will automatically require a police officer to arrest the individual or party in the vehicle. Minors who are in the possession of alcohol are also often arrested in these situations.

Adult offenders are usually arrested and brought to the Dearborn Police Department for processing. There, they are fingerprinted, photographed and charged criminally. An arrest of anyone under the age of 16 is considered a juvenile arrest. In these circumstances, the minor is placed in a juvenile holding cell until his guardian(s) picks him up. Sometimes, if it is a serious offense, the juvenile could be sent to a juvenile detention facility. 

Offenders aged 16 or over are required to post a cash bond by a second party prior to their release from jail. The bond varies depending on the type of crime, but typically ranges from $300 to $700. Those who aren’t able to provide a bond will automatically be sent to see a 19th District Court Judge the following business day. Sometimes, this could result in an offender staying jailed for a few days if the arrest occurs on a weekend. 

A charge of this nature for a youthful offender could cause a drastic shift in their  his day-to-day life. If found guilty, the young adult could be committed to the Wayne County Youth Home, be put on probation, or sentenced to the Work Program.  

While on probation, they may have to present monthly progress reports, write essays, and present school report cards. If charged with possession or use of narcotics, they may be required to undergo a drug treatment program and submit to drug testing on a daily or weekly basis depending on the court ruling.

Although not common, an arrest of a minor could also result in the parent/legal guardian being held accountable under the law. A parent could be charged with “violation of parental responsibility.” 

In his letter, Chief Haddad asks parents to encourage their children to make positive decisions in their lives in an effort to limit the amount of young adults committing crimes. 

“I am asking for your assistance in challenging and educating our young adults to become good citizens and to make good life choices. We must all meet the challenge of developing positive characteristics in our youth through after school programs, mentoring, and guidance. I would like to thank you for your continued support and for your investment in making our youth the best that they can be,” Haddad added. 

Despite the larceny problem, other major crime rates in the city have been trending downwards. In 2013, Part A crimes, which include homicide, robbery, home invasion, motor vehicle theft, arson and aggravated assault, were down 9.5 percent.