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Juvie crime in Texas IS declining, but "why" is a mystery

By Gritsforbreakfast

Okay, back to the question: Is juvenile crime declining in Texas?I'd posed the query upon learning that, contrary to official projections, the total youth on probation in Texas remained flat after changes in the law last year redirected repeat juvenile misdemeanants away from the Youth Commission. Through excellent reactions from commenters, listening to additional legislative testimony from officials, a conversation with a TJPC lawyer, and a review of documents submitted along with recent legislative testimony, I think I can hazard an answer:Yes, juvie crime is declining. The bigger question is "why?" Even more importantly, "what can be done to encourage the trend?"This decline didn't just begin last year. According to Texas Juvenile Probation Commission director Vicki Spriggs' testimony to the Senate Finance Committee this week (April 22), from 2001 to 2007 overall statewide referrals (meaning juvenile offenders sentenced to probation) decreased by 10%, though the state's juvenile population increased by 6% over the same period...continue to full post

Full post as published by Grits for Breakfast on April 25, 2008 (boomark / email).