Mo. police leaders push to change juvenile detention system
ST. CHARLES, Mo. - Recent reports about back-to-back carjackings are just one example of why the Law Enforcement Legislative Coalition is pushing for changes.
“This needs to be fixed,” said Chief Kurt Frisz, St. Charles County Police Department.
Frisz is also the president of the coalition.
The frustration from police officers comes after arresting juveniles accused of violent crimes and then seeing them immediately released.
“They see the same people committing the same crimes, and they keep getting more and more serious,” Frisz said.
He explained that in Missouri, a point system is used to determine whether a juvenile should be detained. Fifteen points would lead to a suspect being detained, according to Frisz.
Frisz said many serious crimes do not rise to that level.
“A juvenile with no points discharged a firearm at a police officer,” Frisz said. “They were later apprehended. That juvenile had no points. That's only 12 points under their point system.”
The St. Louis Police Department also voiced concerns about the point system following the recent carjackings.
A 16-year-old juvenile was arrested and released. But then police said the minor was arrested the next day, accused of being involved in another carjacking.
In response to concerns voiced by the Law Enforcement Legislative Coalition on Monday, St. Louis Police Chief Robert Tracy released the following statement:
“Violent crimes involving firearms and repeat juvenile offenders remain a regional issue that law enforcement officers see daily. The carjackings that occurred last week highlight the need for a comprehensive review of current policies to ensure accountability while also helping young people remain safe and have access to the appropriate resources they need to change their path."
Frisz expects law enforcement and legislators to work on solutions before the start of next year’s legislative session.
“When a serious assault on a person or crimes against a person are not enough to detain somebody until they get a hearing, then something's wrong in the system,” Frisz said.
