JUDGE SEES SMALL PERCENTAGE OF JUVENILES OVER AND OVER

MORGAN COUNTY -- Superior Court II Judge Christopher Burnham believes that
there is a misconception about Morgan County having a big juvenile crime
problem.

"We don't have a huge juvenile problem," he said. "If we compare the number
of juvenile delinquency cases filed locally with the population of children
under 18, there is a very small percentage that get into trouble. But
within that percentage, the ones we deal with generate more work as many
are repeat offenders."

The judge explained that juvenile delinquency here is about average. He
knows that because he not only deals with the cases but also has compiled
statistics on crimes by adults and juvenile delinquents in Morgan County
for more than 10 years. During that time, he has found that drugs and
alcohol are involved in about half the adult cases filed and in about a
third of the juvenile cases.

"The kids are doing better by using less drugs and alcohol than the
adults," Burnham said.

"In 2004, 372 petitions against juveniles were brought before the judge and
there were 1,885 charges against adults. In the big picture of things, I
don't have near the volumes of problems our friends to the north (Marion
County) have," the judge continued. "The one caution is that parents need
to be very well aware of their children's behavior and any sudden changes -
such as attitude with parents or at school, a shift in friends, staying up
late and other odd behaviors."

During a period in the 1990s, Burnham was concerned with gang activity
here, but he said, "I don't see as much now."

Not A Huge Shift

While there are some increases and decreases in certain areas, the figures
on crime have remained pretty consistent, Burnham said.

Two figures stand out in comparing juvenile offenses with adult crimes in
2004. They show that 88 percent of all criminal conversion (theft and
shoplifting) charges were committed by juveniles, and that juveniles
committed 45 percent of all child-molesting charges (on victims under 14).
The judge said he sees a number of cases where a 16- or 17-year-old boy is
having sex with a 12-to-13-year-old girl. At 18, the offender is treated
and charged as an adult.

As to status offenses, 17 juveniles were charged with being a runaway, 33
with truancy, two with curfew violation and 24 with being incorrigible.

Risk Higher For Single Parents

Burnham said that he sees some kids from fine homes and some parents that
don't understand what's happening with their children. He said that single
parent homes tend to have a higher risk of juvenile problems. He explained
that a juvenile is someone under the age of 18. The judge deals with
juveniles who commit delinquent acts, including crimes and status offenses.
He said that there are also outside influences and some kids have no
support and no one to watch after them at home. This is often because all
the adults must work to make a living. Peer pressure is another cause.

Thirteen boys and two girls who had a combined total of 35 cases against
them were committed to the Indiana Department of Correction last year.
There are other options for young people with more than one case. They
include the placement in the IDOC, including the Indianapolis Juvenile
Correctional Facility (for girls), Indiana Boys School, long and short-term
detention in Johnson County, supervision by the probation department,
electric monitoring (home detention) or referrals to outside services. Some
outside services include programs at Bradford Woods, diversion programs,
mental health services and local counselors.

Seven juvenile delinquency cases were waived to adult court in 2004.

Last year, the cost to place juvenile offenders in local secure detention
facilities totaled $182,710.

Juveniles, Adults Compared

In 2004, there were 147 property crimes filed against juveniles and 284
against adults.

Juveniles were charged with 41 crimes against people, with about half of
them misdemeanor batteries, while adults were charged with 234 such crimes
and 161 of them were misdemeanor batteries.

There were 82 juvenile charges involving drugs and alcohol, including 11
for cocaine/narcotic possession, 24 marijuana possession and 33 illegal
possession or consumption of alcohol. There were 418 drug and alcohol
charges against adults, with 114 cocaine/narcotic possessions and 206
marijuana possessions. Juveniles were charged with 11 vehicle crimes,
including eight operating without a license, while adults faced 751 vehicle
charges, including 289 for operating with a blood alcohol content of 10
percent, 272 of operating while intoxicated and 163 of operating without a
license. Seventeen percent of the charges against adults were OWI, 10
percent involved operating without a license and habitual traffic violator
and 13 percent were for possession of marijuana.

Burnham said he is seeing more kids using methamphetamine than before. He
said some are getting it laced in with marijuana without knowing it, and
the substance shows up during drug testing.

The judge said young people are more apt to get into trouble at the end of
the school year and during the summer months.

"They're better when they're in school and busy," he said.

A New Law

Burnham explained that a new law this year directs the juvenile courts to
name a court-appointed special advocate in every juvenile child in need of
services case.

"We have no money to do that," Burnham said. "In Morgan County, we, like
many counties, rely on volunteers. We train, organize and keep them up to
date. But there are not enough of them."

The judge teaches a class for CASA.

"The courts work with the CASA program," he said. "It's tough to do but it
is a really important program."

He said that anyone who would like to volunteer to serve on the program
could contact Kelly Bray at (765) 342-1082.

Attendance, Probation Officers

Jenny Babbitt is attendance officer for the Martinsville School District,
while Sarah Malone is attendance officer for Mooresville and Monroe-Gregg
districts. They are in court every week, Burnham said.

Babbitt and Malone said their biggest problem is truancy, especially at the
elementary level. Often it's due to neglect on the part of the parents, and
frequently officers file a probable cause affidavit on both the child and
parents.

The officers give the families an opportunity to correct a bad situation.
They say most parents admit they have a problem and get put on probation,
but some fight the complaint and go to court, where they might have a jury
trial.

Last month, Kevin Parrish was found guilty of neglect of a dependent as a
felony and failure to comply with compulsory school attendance as a
misdemeanor. He is to be sentenced in Morgan Circuit Court on Tuesday,
Babbitt said.

Malone said that some parents do not realize there is a law that requires
children to attend school. There are 15 certified officers in the Morgan
County Probation Department, said Brian Foley, assistant chief officer.
Four of the officers - Jeff Faudree, Brent Fultz, Melanie Anderson and
Paula Ross - deal with juveniles.

Foley talked with some of the juvenile officers and said they agreed that
drugs and alcohol are the biggest problems facing county youth. The
problems cross over from adults to kids. He said that some young people
here also have a methamphetamine problem, which has trickled down from adults.

Foley said referral is one of the department's most important jobs. He said
the staff works closely with schools, mental health agencies and the
Department of Child Services.

Burnham concluded with this thought: "As a society, until we clean up our
own act as adults, how can we expect to succeed with kids? There needs to
be more of a cooperative effort between parents, kids, courts, probation
department, non-profit groups and schools."