MEMPHIS, Tenn. (localmemphis.com) – Violent juvenile crime in Shelby County isexploding. A big spike up, according to Juvenile Court Judge Dan Michael.
These aren’t the juvenile crimes most folks think about.
Judge Michael says age doesn’t make much of a difference anymorewhen it comes to violent crime.
“It’s up about 58% over last year,” he says, “…which is frightening. The problem is the access to guns, and the involvement ofgangs.”
His system has transferred 90 juveniles to adult court this year.
Listen to what he and others are dealing with when it comes topeople not old enough to drive a car.
“First degree murder,” Judge Michael says, “…aggravated robbery, especially aggravated robbery, aggravated rape, kidnapping.You would think these are children – they don’t do these types of things. Well,they do.”
The Juvenile Courts are supposed to rehabilitate. It is theirnumber one state-mandated mission.
There are some who do things where punishment is needed.
More juveniles are transferred to adult court in Shelby countythan any other county in the state.
Judge Michael says the law is clear, and he has to follow it.
“The transfer rate in Shelby County amounts to about 4% to 5%of all the children that show up in front of me,” he says. “It’s avery small number. And these are the children that commit the most violent andheinous crimes.”
The vast majority of children he sees don’t do these types ofcrimes. The vast majority of children going through the Juvenile Court systemneed help, and they are getting it.
Judge Michael, addressing his staff during his State of theJuvenile Court Address Friday, said “You need to know this court is farahead of a lot of other juvenile courts, family court judges, and their courtsacross the country.”
He said a new heating and air conditioning system has just beeninstalled in the Juvenile Court building, and there should be an announcementin a couple of weeks concerning where the county will detain juveniles, whilethe existing building gets long needed renovations.