NCJ Number
169446
Date Published
1997
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article first describes what is known about the changing juvenile arrest patterns in North Carolina and what this says about juvenile crime; this is followed by a discussion of the implications of these trends for public policy.
Abstract
North Carolina data for 1985 and 1995 show that although the number of juveniles (below age 16) arrested is still low, this number has increased rapidly, despite a decrease in the number of juveniles in North Carolina's general population. Juveniles are also committing more serious violent crimes, more robberies, more crimes against strangers, and more crimes that involve drugs and weapons. Further, data show that juveniles are committing these crimes at younger ages. There are three factors that affect the number of juvenile crimes: the number of juveniles in the population, the rate at which juveniles commit crimes, and the age at which juveniles start and stop committing crimes. Current data on each of these factors indicate that juvenile crime will continue to increase in North Carolina. The State and local communities must develop ways to reinforce factors that limit children's exposure to forces that pull them toward delinquency. These include early childhood development programs, intervention for children identified as likely to become delinquent, more adult supervision for juveniles, the use of alternative schools for suspended students, the expanded use of after-school programs, and accountability for juveniles the first time they commit an offense. Sanctions for juveniles should become more severe each time they come to court. Community-based programs and aftercare programs should be the focus of juvenile corrections. 2 tables and 8 figures