The City of Spartanburg says youth are committing too many crimes in the city and action needs to be taken.
The mayor unveiled a new plan to target youth crime.
Public Safety will partner with schools and the juvenile justice department, identifying at-risk youth who have been in trouble with the law and released.
Those young people will then be encouraged to stay out of trouble with community intervention programs.
The goal is to put the teens on the right track. Parents will also be asked to participate in programs to enhance parenting skills.
Mayor Bill Barnett said, "In our hearts we all know we are losing a very important battle. We are losing too many children---too many of our youth--who either have low expectations or a poor group of people surrounding them."
The mayor says the current system of arresting and releasing doesn't reduce the problem, unless multiple agencies join forces to change teens lives.
March and April were the biggest months this year for crimes involving youth. Nearly 100 young people were cited as suspects in April alone.
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