NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- During Channel 4’s coverage of “The Young and the Lawless,” there have been ways seen to help stop the trend of young offenders.

Video: Leaders Look To Deter Young People From Crime

Unlike many of her peers, teenager Cheyenne Flair is running wild.

"No one's telling them what's right or wrong, they just run wild,” she said of the troubled teens.

Flair is a low-income, at-risk youth, but part of what makes her an honor student and standout in her family is that after school, she goes to Youth Encouragement Services.

“Gives you a support system, friends you can talk to, adults that can give you advice,” she said.

During its reporting, Channel 4 has spoken with parents, children, police, prosecutors and others involved in the juvenile justice system to find out what's broken and what's working.

Channel 4 found that after school programs are one of the top ways to curb juvenile crime.

"We try to tell people you're either going to see them here, or you're going to see them on the streets,” said Chris Barnhill of Youth Encouragement Services.

"We expose them to so many different things. They don't have time to think about doing something wrong,” said John Hamilton of the Boys and Girls Club.

Channel 4 also found churches playing a bigger role than ever in becoming surrogate parents to children.

"You throw a 20-pound Bible in their face, you won't get their attention. But if they feel like you're coming to them, on their level. … We can change our methods without changing our message,” said the Rev. Michael Joyner.

According to some, one of the greatest impacts on the troubled young people is hip-hop music. Some of it is filled with violence.

"The hip-hop culture is very influential, and this sets the tone for what's right or wrong,” said assistant principal and youth leader John Woodard.

People involved with troubled youth said separating fact from fiction in hip-hop is important for at-risk youth.

“That's what we want the kids to understand. That this is not reality,” Woodard said. “They're (hip-hop performers) multi-millionaires. They're not living this street mentality lifestyle."

Channel 4 also found educating adults to be better parents to be perhaps the most influential way to stop the violence.

A program in north Nashville in part teaches fathers better parenting skills to keep their children out of jail.

“Most of the children, they are left out there without that father in their life. So the streets become a surrogate father for them,” said single father Andre Jackson.

Despite the spike in violent juvenile crime in 2007, many said they feel there is still hope in remembering that even in the most hardened of young offenders, there is still a child needing help.

The following links are to organizations dedicated to helping young people and families.

Youth Encouragement Services

Boys and Girls Club of Middle Tennessee

Fatherhood Education Program

Youth Villages