Domestic violence also contributes to the increase in juvenile crime, Bradford said. A lot of these kids don't know how to compromise or resolve a problem without violence. The group started two new sessions for teens last year because the courts needed additional rehabilitation programs for young offenders. The Youth Alternatives to Violence and Safe Alternatives for Everyone programs teach juveniles how to peacefully resolve problems, said Stahl. Schoech attributes a lot of the juvenile crime problems to busy families who spend less time at home.
Families are on the road for more time and more often, which means less time around their kids.
Although Schoech and Stahl agree that their treatment programs are helpful, both insist that juvenile crime could be prevented. For a lot of these kids, violence is the only way they know.