Juvenile crime on the rise

MOBILE, Ala. - Recently an 8th grader at Mae Eanes Middle School was arrested for having a gun on campus. It's one of 15 cases since August involving a gun at an area school.

Juvenile Judge Edmond Naman calls that alarming. "The gun problem in this community is out of control. We've almost tripled our gun cases since 2004, quite frankly that keeps me up at night."

In the last year, the number of weapon offenses involving teens has nearly doubled. There were 89 weapon offenses involving 14-year-olds and 15-year-olds in 2007. So far this year, there are 139.

"Thirty-one Robbery and first degree cases involving 14 or 15-year-olds committing a crime with a weapon," said Naman. Compare that to 15 the year before. Perhaps what's most alarming is the number of 14 and 15-year-olds charged with murder.

"I'm talking about five murders committed by people ages 14 and 15 that is unheard of," shared Naman. Judge Naman contributes the rise in juvenile violent crime to a lack of parental involvement in the child's life.

"They're growing up learning their trade on the street," said Judge Naman. A trade that includes time behind bars.

Judge Naman also told FOX10 News, come January a new court will convene in Mobile and it deals with parental responsibility.