VIDEO: Child Crime Getting More Severe

GOLDEN TRIANGLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Juvenile crime seems to be on the rise.

Juvenile Court officials tell us it’s not the numbers of crimes. It’s the severity.

People have a good idea of what constitutes as a crime: drug possession, theft, and murder.

But when you add that it was a teenager committing the crime, it becomes a greater concern.

This is something people within the courts are noticing.

At the Lowndes County Juvenile Detention Center, holding cells and courtrooms are for kids under the age of 18.

Crimes these courts have been seeing lately are not those you’d normally expect from a teenager.

“There has been an increase in maybe the severity of the crimes that are being committed, in terms of burglaries, assaults and things of that nature,” said Lowndes County prosecutor, Allison Kizer.

“More serious thefts, over $1000, entering into homes with concealed weapons or with weapons, stealing weapons, which of course leads to other crimes, and some very serious aggravated assault,” said Oktibbeha and Clay County prosecutor, Lydia Quarles.

Some attribute this rise in severity to a breakdown in family structure.

Others argue it is due to something becoming more and more common on a police report.

“…the availability of drugs in the community that young people can get a hold of. Drugs were not available to me when I was in high school. I mean, beer was hardly available. So I think part of it is availability,” said Quarles.

Juveniles don’t just jump to these severe crimes.

There is often a pattern of repeating crimes and working up a ladder of offenses.

“There’s high recidivism in youth court,” said Quarles.

“You try to find what it is that you can do from a youth court standpoint, because in my opinion I think… I wouldn’t do this job if I didn’t think so. I think they can still be saved. You know, there are things you can do to redirect or get them out of the path they are going on, but that doesn’t work for every child,” continued Kizer.

Even though the offenders are juveniles, sometimes they can find themselves being treated as adults.

“If it’s a capital offense and they are 13 and above, then they automatically go to the adult courts. They do not come through this system,” said Kizer.

Teenagers can be seen as adult offenders in the eyes of the court, depending on how severe the crime is.