• Is teen crime on the rise?
• Are teens using violence to replace feelings of anger or frustration?
• Do they think there are no answers to their problems and turn to violence to express their out of control emotions?
• Are teenagers the frequent targets of violent crime?
• Why are incidents of violence against teens, nearly three times that of adults?
• Why are teenagers more likely that adults to be victimized by people they know?
• Why are teenagers victimized by all types of crime and violence at rates dramatically higher than any other age group?
• Why are youth victims of rape, robbery, and assault almost three times more frequent than adults?

Who is Eligible?

The MERGE TVP Program is most suited to Young People 16-19 years old who are identified by an appropriate source "at risk" i.e. Parent/Caregiver, Board of Education, Regional Police, Probation & Parole and other Social Service Agencies.

Our Program seeks to provide youths & young adults with an array of supportive and preventive measures, to individuals who are identified as being at risk or those involved in the Young Offender System. The program also addresses the connection between families/ care givers and youth / young adult.

* Our program emphasizes a community wide effort to be implemented at the local level to reduce the incidence of teen violence and engage teens as crime prevention resources in their schools and communities.

Here are some questions you can review to see if you have a problem:

• Has another person ever physically injured you?
• Have you ever got so angry that, while driving, you drove recklessly and lost control of your vehicle?
• Have you ever drank or taken other drugs to cover you feelings or hide pain?
• Have you ever felt like blowing your self or another person away?
• Have you ever physically or sexually hurt another person?