East St. Louis panel discussion tells young people how to stay out of trouble

EAST ST. LOUIS A local panel of community leaders met with young people to talk about ways to stay out of trouble.

The event, held last week at the New Life Community Church, was called “Keep Your Tail Out of Jail,” a catchy phrase designed to get young people’s attention, said the Rev. Kendall Granger, pastor of the church.

They learned that they are to be respectful to a police officer if they are stopped; to know their rights; how what you put on social media could lead to a charge of inciting a fight, the laws about mob action, and more.

Other topics discussed were that a conviction follows you for life; gangs; bad relationships that can lead to trouble, and what happens sexually inside of jails.

Those on the panel were Jarran Riley, a special agent with Illinois State Police; St. Clair County Sheriff Rick Watson; criminal defense attorney Rodney Holmes; Annette Tim, director of the St. Clair County Jail’s Scared Straight program, and Francella Jackson, director of community outreach programs for the East St. Louis Police Department.

Riley told the young people and their parents in attendance that they all have a responsibility to do the right thing and follow the law.

“I want them to know what information they have to give police during a traffic stop and how they should conduct themselves. Hopefully we reached them all. It’s important that they know we are not their enemies. If they have issues, they should ask for help. If they are being bullied at school, they need to find someone they can talk to about it if they don’t want to go to the teacher. They have to try to get out of situations before they lead to problems,” Riley said.

Tim said that jail “is no fun.”

“You have people who have been to jail and have gotten out who are out here telling young people that it’s OK to go to jail. In some cases people seem to think nothing will happen to them in jail and that is not always true. I don’t want them to come to jail. Maybe, if they come through the Scared Straight program and get a realistic look at what a prisoner’s life is like,” they will stay clean.

A lot of young people are engaging in fights these days, including some boyfriends and girlfriends cheating, and there were several questions regarding what happens if you fight and police are called.

Granger told the young people it’s easy to become angry if they find out their boyfriend or girlfriend is cheating on them.

“That anger is generated after they you have engaged in sex with a boyfriend or girlfriend and that person decides to see someone else. Those emotions are tied to that activity. If you don’t engage in that activity, you won’t have that anger inside of you. You would care less if you’re not sexually active,” he said.

Watson said, “If two people are fighting and a third person brings a baseball bat to the fight to help a friend, that person would be charged.” He told them two or more people jumping into a fight could be considered mob action

“Don’t put yourself in a situation that can cause you problems. And, do not give information that will wind up with you in jail. I am not here to try to tell you how to get around the law. But, you have rights. It is easier for you not to have a phone at school if the the rule is no,” Holmes said.

“As a lawyer, I tell you to shut up and call a lawyer. If you are stopped for a DUI, I tell you don’t blow, call a lawyer,” he said. Ultimately, though, Holmes said the goal for everyone should be to stay out of trouble and out of jail.

A lot of the conversation centered around social media and the kinds of things young people are putting out there. “If you’re taking a video, you could be charged with inciting a fight,” Holmes said. They learned that it doesn’t matter whether it happens on or off the bus, on school property or elsewhere.

“YouTube stars don’t make money,” Jackson chimed in.

Michelle Brooks brought her 18-year old daughter, Hollis McCottrell, to the event because she wanted to learn more about the law and also wanted her daughter to learn what happens when young people make bad choices.

“I wanted to get tips and have my daughter hear the message on how to stay out of jail. I want her to know her rights and what she’s responsible for doing. She will be driving soon,” Brooks said.

Maurice Eiland, 18, a student at Belleville East High School, said he was glad he attended the event.

“I leaned the importance of doing the right thing all of the time. I learned how to stay our of jail and how to choose my friends,”he said. Eiland said he planned to share what he learned with his friends.

Alfred McGee, 15, a student at Belleville East, said he learned that if you’re running and police are after you and you reach to pull up your sagging pants, the police could shoot you. “They don’t know whether you’re reaching for a gun or not,” he said.

“I learned a lot tonight. No fights and no videos or trouble for me. I plan to keep my tail out of jail,” he said.

Jackson said, “Young people are our future. We have to teach them about respect, responsibility and what things they need to be focused on to stay out of of trouble.

Watson said he wants young people to know “they don’t have to be afraid if they are stopped by the police.”

“Just talk to the police. You don’t have to yell at them, just talk to them. Treat them with respect and they will treat you with respect,”he said.

This story was originally published July 15, 2015 at 10:06 AM with the headline "East St. Louis panel discussion tells young people how to stay out of trouble."