(The Center Square) — The Caddo Commission heard an updated juvenile detention census report on Monday, showing juvenile crime is holding steady at lower numbers as summer months continue.
After reported juvenile numbers showed little change two weeks ago, Caddo Administrative Officer Erica Bryant gave the commission an update during Monday’s work session.
According to Bryant, reported juvenile numbers show 17 in detention, six with the Office of Juvenile Justice, no 17 year-olds, 23 in the Caddo Correctional Center and 461 probation cases.
Commissioner John Atkins said the detention number seems low compared to the usual summer intake.
“It’s a common misconception. In the summer, June, July and August are actually the three lowest months of the year,” said Caddo Parish Assistant Administrator Clay Walker. “The highest months are April, May, September and October.”
Walker said while they haven’t pinpointed why this is, one thought is when kids get together at school or on buses, it prompts them to socialize with the wrong crowd. June, July and August restrain kids to just the perimeters within walking distance.
Director of Juvenile Service Andrew Randall Jr. previously told The Center Square that May is the highest month for intakes.
“When we look at this time of year, school is letting out or getting ready to let out, and the summer will begin. That kind of intensifies our efforts. If we track just from the data points, even of last year, our highest month of admissions to the detention center was actually May,” said Randall.
In Bryant’s last report, there was not a big shift in detention numbers compared to the June 2 data, and six additional probation cases were reported. There were previously 17 juveniles in detention, five with the Office of Juvenile Justice, 26 in the Caddo Correctional Center and 452 probation cases.
The work to decrease juvenile crime in the parish is ongoing. Parish officials have continuously sought to find additional funding, increase age-appropriate activities for children to have somewhere to engage and initiate local efforts in decreasing juvenile crime rates.
