While there is evidence that out-of-custody therapeutic programming can benefit many youthful offenders, the rising crime statistics of the past five years suggest the state shouldn’t be so quick to abandon the system as it was just a few years ago.
Juvenile crime in California is rising – and rising by a lot.
Last year, the number of juveniles arrested for all types of offenses reached 32,874, which was a staggering increase of 70 percent from just a few years ago in 2021, and since 2019 juvenile homicides rose 82 percent.
But juvenile crime trends can be a bit misleading if one doesn’t consider the simple fact that juveniles don’t stay juveniles. They grow up and, in many cases, become adults while their crimes are investigated and they are eventually charged.
Nothing contained in this blog is to be construed as necessarily reflecting the views of the Pacific Research Institute or as an attempt to thwart or aid the passage of any legislation.
Juvenile justice reforms drive a spike in criminal offenses
Steve Smith
While there is evidence that out-of-custody therapeutic programming can benefit many youthful offenders, the rising crime statistics of the past five years suggest the state shouldn’t be so quick to abandon the system as it was just a few years ago.
Juvenile crime in California is rising – and rising by a lot.
Last year, the number of juveniles arrested for all types of offenses reached 32,874, which was a staggering increase of 70 percent from just a few years ago in 2021, and since 2019 juvenile homicides rose 82 percent.
But juvenile crime trends can be a bit misleading if one doesn’t consider the simple fact that juveniles don’t stay juveniles. They grow up and, in many cases, become adults while their crimes are investigated and they are eventually charged.
Read the entire op-ed.
Nothing contained in this blog is to be construed as necessarily reflecting the views of the Pacific Research Institute or as an attempt to thwart or aid the passage of any legislation.