(The Center Square) — Recent crime statistics show an increase in juvenile arrests since 2023 in Caddo Parish.
Records from the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office showed 40 arrests already taking place this year as of Feb. 21. This report noted 222 juveniles arrested in 2023 and 269 arrested in 2024.
In a recent Caddo Parish Commission meeting, Parish Administrator Erica Bryant shared the recent juvenile numbers, with 25 in detention, five in the Office of Juvenile Justice, 27 with the chief court counselor and 452 on probation.
Apart from the increase in arrests since 2023, the numbers Bryant shared in the Feb. 18 work session show an increase since the Feb. 4 session when there were only 17 in detention, five in the Office of Juvenile Justice, and 24 with the chief court counselor.
There was a decrease in juveniles on probation, with 458 reported on Feb. 4, and now there are 452.
Commissioner John-Paul Young raised concerns over capacity if another juvenile gets arrested.
“What’s our plan for when another kid gets arrested and there’s 24 beds full?” Young asked.
The Caddo Parish Juvenile Justice Center only has 24 beds available.
According to Bryant, a process is set in place to assess who can be released should additional juveniles be taken in at the facility, and numbers in the facility have been down a bit not having to house 17-year-olds.
According to a Louisiana law recently passed last year, the age for trying juveniles as adults dropped from 18 to 17. The upcoming election in March is giving the vote to the citizens of Caddo Parish to revise Amendment No. 3 of the Louisiana Constitution.
If passed, the revision allows courts to decide which felonies committed by those under 17 years of age can be tried as adults.
The fight to minimize juvenile crime in Caddo Parish is ongoing as just last December, Caddo District Attorney James Stewart made it a priority to keep juveniles out of prison.
“I’m seeing too many kids that we have already put in prison, in juvenile prison years ago, and now they’re 18, 19, and still offending,” Chief Deputy District Attorney Wilbert Pryor said in a statement to TV station KSLA.
The parish offers Youth Crime Prevention presentations, among other programs, ranging from gun crimes, cyberbullying, sexual assault, and others. The program aims to teach and educate young people in the Caddo Parish area to stay safe and make good decisions.
