To the Editors:
Hanover Police's plan of stepping up patrols in areas of high risk for underage drinking has an unfortunate and incorrect focus. According to the article, the funding for the plan comes in the form of a $14,000 grant from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. The article states that "The Office of Juvenile Justice distributes money earmarked for alcohol prevention." The mission of the group is to support states and local communities "in their effort to develop and implement effective programs for juveniles." Maybe I'm legally ignorant, but I always assumed that the legal definition of "juvenile" was under 18 years of age. Yes, underage drinking is illegal, but a grant from a group whose mission is to support states and local communities "in their effort to develop and implement effective programs for juveniles" should be used to do just that. Spending extra money to look for drunk adults, and following delivery men to the residences of adults, does not constitute in any way shape or form an "effective program for juveniles."
