More Kids Being Charged As Adults in Madison County
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JACKSON, Tenn — Jackson police are arresting more and more teens for more and more violent crimes. “This large number of children committing serious offenses is very troubling to me,” said Amy Jones, director for the Madison County Juvenile Court Services. For Jones, Hentrick Long,17, is one of those troubling teens. He currently faces five counts of attempted first degree murder in two separate cases. He was actually free on bond during the last shooting on Holland Avenue, Monday night. He is charged as an adult in both cases. “The decision to transfer a child begins with the district attorney,” Jones said. Officials said while the number of juveniles coming through the system is lower than previous years, the number of them committing more serious offenses is increasing. “Our youth are pretty much mad about not being properly educated or parented,” Rosalind Greer, an educator and youth advocate said. Greer along with Councilman Johnny Dodd are working together to form a Youth Violence program to help keep teens off the streets. Before 2012, Jones said only one or two juveniles were transferred to adult court each year in the county; but since October of last year she has seen 12, including Long, who have been tried as adults.
