A Los Angeles Superior Court commissioner wants to keep teens out of his courtroom…

   Juvenile Court Commissioner Robert Totten said the best way to do that is to keep them active and keep the lines of communication open.
    “I don’t believe that kids can be over-scheduled,” Totten said. “There should not be a time when they’re not doing something. Keep them engaged.”
    Totten’s admonition came during an informal discussion Wednesday to help parents recognize teen troubles before petty incidents escalate into more serious offenses.
    Totten was joined by the five-member team of the Los Angeles County Juvenile Drug Court in Sylmar. The panel included Public Defender Philomene Swenson, Defense Council Patricia Rice, Probation Officer Steven Malla, District Attorney Ed Lutz, and Paige Pengra of the Tarzana Treatment Center.
    The juvenile drug court oversees a $4,000 per youth, nine-month, multi-step program for San Fernando Valley offenders.
    Although the program is available to Santa Clarita Valley teens, Totten said very few are able to participate because parents are unable to schedule rides to the program sites in Northridge.
    The team explained how a common petty theft offense, such as a beer run, can turn into a felony strike that will follow the youth into adulthood.
    Lutz said if the beer run turns into a robbery conviction at age 16, the felony strike counts when the offender is convicted of a second felony as an adult which carries a 25 years-to-life sentence in the state prison.
    “The third time, they don’t see you again,” Lutz said.
    Totten said felony strikes can impede future employment because it scares employers and could render the offender ineligible for the military.
    To prevent serious legal convictions, Rice said parents should teach kids how to recognize dangerous situations and be allowed to call for help with no questions asked.
    “Teach them to say ‘I’m out of here’ when parties get out of hand,” Rice said. “Tell them to be good, but be smart. Don’t be where trouble is.”

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