Juvenile Crime Prevention Council Meeting

Juvenile Crime Prevention Council Meeting Recap: September 12, 2025

The Buncombe County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (JCPC) held a special session on September 12, 2025, to review racial and ethnic disparity data within the local juvenile justice system. The meeting was conducted in a hybrid format, allowing for both in-person and virtual participation, and was open to the public via livestream. The primary focus of the session was an informational review of Fiscal Year 2025 (FY’25) data, with no formal votes or policy decisions taken.

The core of the meeting involved a presentation by Crystal Wynn-Lewis, the Juvenile Justice Racial and Ethnic Disparities (RED) Coordinator, who detailed significant shifts in juvenile justice statistics. A key finding was a 43% decrease in total delinquent complaints, which dropped from 650 in FY’24 to 277 in FY’25. Despite this overall reduction, the data highlighted that disparities persist; for example, while Black youth represent 9% of the county’s youth population, they accounted for 49% of the total complaints and 43% of distinct juveniles involved in the system.

The presentation also examined specific areas of the justice system, noting that school-based complaints decreased significantly over a four-year period, falling from 401 in FY’22 to 95 in FY’25. Although the total number of school-based complaints dropped, the data indicated a continued presence of Black and Hispanic youth in these referrals. Additionally, the review covered system outcomes, including 59 detention placements and two commitments to Youth Development Centers (YDCs), with Black youth comprising 63% of the detention placements. The data further showed that 71% of distinct juveniles involved in the system were male.

Community input was gathered during the session, with attendees sharing perspectives on the importance of addressing peer group influences and building positive connections for youth. Participants emphasized the need to support families with accessible resources and highlighted the value of community-led initiatives and partnerships in addressing juvenile justice issues. These comments focused on the broader social factors affecting youth rather than specific policy changes.

Regarding next steps, the JCPC stated that it will continue to use the presented data to inform its annual planning and resource allocation decisions. Staff members, including Crystal Wynn-Lewis and her team, indicated they will continue to provide data updates to the council, courts, and community programs. Additionally, plans are underway to develop accessible materials that present this data in a way that is easily understood by parents and community members.

The meeting also noted upcoming community initiatives, including a focus on referrals for the Youth Build program, a collaborative initiative offering GED attainment and construction certification to at-risk youth. A community event focused on addressing opioid and polysubstance use among youth is scheduled for October 25. The next regular JCPC meeting is set for the third Thursday of October from 8:30 to 10:00 a.m.