New data shows incidents involving youth may be trending up in Wake, Durham and Cumberland counties.

The North Carolina Division of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention published a new data dashboard that provides a five-year snapshot of juvenile justice trends across the state and in all 100 counties. The most recent data is from December.

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Wake, Durham and Cumberland counties had some of the highest rates of juvenile complaints, according to Bill Lassiter, deputy secretary of juvenile justice.

"Wake used to be one of lower counties but in the last year it's one of the top rates in the state," Lassiter said.

In Wake County, juvenile complaints in 2023 were at 3,613, but last year rose to 3,823.

In Durham County, complaints were up 5,113 in 2024 compared to 5,093 in 2023.

Lassiter explained a shortage of youth detention staff may have contributed to a rise in youth crime in previous years. The staff vacancy rate was formerly 65%; now it's down to 25%.

"Now that we have support structures in place [and the] support young people need, we are seeing juvenile crime is coming back down," Lassiter said. "We had a huge vacancy rate within juvenile justice, and all of that factored into a rising rate in our state."

The data shows, across the state, 85 guns were found on school campuses last year. Reports of youth stealing guns from vehicles are also on the rise.

As a result, the state is working to develop more intensive youth-based community programs to decrease the number of repeat youth offenders. 

"Research shows that the deeper they get into the system [the more likely] they will reoffend," Lassiter said.

He explained youth programs hold kids accountable for their actions.

 "We can do it without sending them to court," Lassiter said.

The dashboard allows users to hone in on data specific to their home county and see how juvenile crime trends changed when North Carolina adjusted the law that defines the age when a criminal is considered an adult.

It highlights six key metrics regarding the juvenile justice system:

  • Number of juvenile complaints received
    • The number of juveniles diverted from juvenile court
      • The number of juveniles placed under court-ordered supervision 
        • Juvenile detention center admissions
          • Youth development center commitments

            For example:

            • In 2022, the state received 35,899 juvenile complaints
              • In 2023, that number rose to 35,899
                • In 2024, it rose again to 40,447

                  Statewide, the number of juveniles transferred to detention facilities is also up.

                  • In 2022, 2,591 people were admitted to juvenile detention
                    • In 2023, 2,934 people were admitted to juvenile detention
                      • In 2024, 3,036 people were admitted to juvenile detention

                        Lassiter emphasized a focus on more hiring and community-based programing will help improve the numbers.

                        "We need more community-based programming, we need additional staff in our facilities, and we need to make sure [we doing the best thing for] kids ages 16 to 17 that are facing serious charges," Lassiter said.