Arrests of juveniles in Vicksburg have exactly doubled from last year and charges range from burglary to armed robbery and murder.

Police figures show 270 juvenile arrests since the beginning of January compared to 135 between January and June 2008.

Teen arrests

2007………………….304

2008………………….395

2009 to date……….270

Chief Tommy Moffett said if the rate continues, arrests will easily surpass the 395 made in 2008. In 2007, a total of 304 juveniles were arrested.

Moffett, who is subject to rehiring or removal next week, said the numbers could reflect more crime or better police work. Either way, he said, it’s not good.

“I could brag and say, ‘Look at all of the arrests we are making, all of the cases we are closing,’ but how can you brag about arresting children?” Moffett said during a report to the Vicksburg Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting Tuesday.

While any person younger than 18 is legally a juvenile, Moffett said the average youthful offender is only 15 or 16.

Today, Gemini Porter, 16, Kersey Young, 17, and Roosevelt Harris, 17, face charges they shot and killed Antonio Turner, who was 25, on March 15; three juveniles and an 18-year-old face charges in a series of pistol whippings and robberies of drivers and pedestrians and an array of others faces additional robbery, burglary, rape, aggravated assault, larceny, car theft, simple assault, malicious mischief, illegal weapons possession, narcotics and curfew violations.

Moffett suggests parents should share in the responsibility for teens’ activities.

“I’m pleading with parents to engage their children more to help prevent these crimes before they occur. I’d love for parents to call me; let me know what I might be able to do to help, ” Moffett said.

Moffett also said gangs are increasing among Vicksburg teens. He said three known gangs — “K3,” “Bottom Boys” and “Dirty White Boys” — are operating in Vicksburg and are likely contributing to the spike in criminal activity.

Under state law, those accused of violent crimes are jailed, tried and can be imprisoned as adults. Others, including teens named as suspects in auto and residential burglaries reported throughout the city, are processed in Warren County Youth Court.

Last week, three teens were arrested for two auto burglaries reported in the Wisteria and Parkside drive areas. Two of the three were released back to their parents and one was held at the Warren County Detention Center because of a probation violation.

Early Saturday morning, a 15-year-old and a 16-year-old were arrested along with three young adults in a string of seven auto burglaries reported in three city subdivisions.

In addition to Vicksburg juveniles arrested, three Jackson teens were arrested Wednesday in their hometown for an armed carjacking that occurred in Vicksburg the week before.

“We have seen a rise in the crimes committed by juveniles this year in the city,” acknowledged Lt. Bobby Stewart, who believes the failing economy might be a contributing factor, among others, in the kinds of crimes committed by the city’s youth.

“The economy has something to do with it because we have seen more burglaries committed,” said Stewart. “If a kid doesn’t have something and they don’t have the means to get, they’ll take it if they don’t have the right rearing at home.”

Stewart also said he hopes the mayor-elect’s campaign goals to implement more youth programs will turn the tide.

Vicksburg Mayor-elect Paul Winfield has pledged to expand the city’s recreational department to include more activities for the youth.

He also plans to encourage volunteerism among the city’s youths and engage them in meaningful projects.

Moffett agrees that youth programs can be beneficial, but is adamant on parents’ roles in their children’s activities.

“We are doing our job from an enforcement standpoint,” said Moffett. “I would be in support of parenting classes and having parents engage the police department and youth courts early.”

During the past four years, the police department held a program called Street Ball for the city’s youth, where law enforcement officers interacted with youth in basketball games. The interaction developed a bond between law enforcement officers and the some youths, but due to lack of funding the program was not held this summer.

Deputy Chief Richard O’Bannon, who coordinated the league, estimated $45,000 per summer to hold the program for eight weeks at both of the junior high gymnasiums.

The estimate included the eight-week salaries of five patrol officers, one sergeant and four civilian counselors.

“I think it was a good program. It gives kids in the neighborhood somewhere to go,” O’Bannon said. “It was more than coming out to play ball. There were positive messages that came out of it.”

O’Bannon said he would like to see the program up and running again but said it would depend on the new mayor’s plans for the youth.

He said about 500 students signed up for the program last year and about 300 to 350 students showed up daily.

Winfield, who has donated his own money to the Street Ball program in the past, said he would have to review the numbers associated with running the program before making a decision on it.

To help curb the number of crimes committed by juveniles, the city has been stepping up patrol during the evening hours and heavily enforcing the curfew law, which states that teens need to be in their homes by 10 p.m. on weekdays and by midnight on weekends during the school year. For the summer, curfew is extended to midnight seven days a week.

Curfew arrests rose from nine in the first half of 2008 to 14 so far this year.

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Contact Manivanh Chanprasith at mchan@vicksburgpost.com