We’ve reported on the troubling trend in Western Washington of more crimes committed by young people.
The latest law enforcement numbers show juvenile arrests across Washington went up 35% between 2021 and 2022. According to the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, they were on the decline for a decade before that.
There’s also a sense that there are no real consequences for teen criminals even after an arrest.
Sgt. Darren Moss with the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department said something adding to the perception is a law that took effect in 2021. It requires law enforcement to put a juvenile in contact with an attorney before asking them any questions.
But Moss said the policy also impedes investigations.
“I think the consequences to that bill are a lot harsher than what they thought they would be,” Moss said. “No attorney is ever going to let us talk to their client, especially if they have no idea what’s going on. We call them on the phone at two in the morning. Hey, can we talk to this kid because he stole a car and shot somebody? No, I can’t.”