In the early 1990s, crimes such as aggravated assault, simple assault, rape, robbery and murder accounted for only 7 percent to 8 percent of juvenile offenses. But in later years of the decade, crimes in those categories climbed to as much as 16 percent of juvenile crimes. Assault is the juvenile offense that has driven that increase. In 1992, for example, juveniles committed 11 aggravated assaults in Hall County. By 1998, juveniles committed 28 aggravated assaults in Hall County, and the following year, they committed 23.
Aggravated assaults are the most serious type.
Such assaults often involve a weapon. In 1992, juveniles committed 57 simple assaults in Hall County, according to state crime statistics. In 1999, they committed 196 simple assaults. Ironically, some efforts to reduce youth crime may have led to a spike in crime statistics. Barr Middle School Principal Ted DeTurk said he has not noticed an increased tendency for young people to fight.