Juvenile Crime Prevention Council Meeting

Juvenile Crime Prevention Council Focuses on Racial Equity in Youth Justice System

On September 12, 2025, the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (JCPC) held a special session dedicated to reviewing data on racial equity within Buncombe County’s juvenile justice system. The meeting, which was open to the public and live-streamed, brought together a wide range of stakeholders including county government officials, juvenile court personnel, law enforcement representatives, school administrators, healthcare providers, community organizations like Pivot Point and Buncom Alternatives, and concerned residents. The goal was to understand current trends and inform future strategies for ensuring fairness within the system.

The core of the meeting centered on a presentation by Crystal Wood Lewis, Buncombe County’s Racial and Ethnic Disparities Coordinator for Juvenile Justice. Her presentation revealed a significant decrease in overall juvenile complaints compared to the previous year (down from 650 to 277), a positive trend indicating progress. However, the data also underscored a persistent and concerning disparity: despite representing a smaller portion of the overall youth population, young people of color, particularly Black youth, continue to be disproportionately involved in complaints, detention admissions, and commitments to Youth Development Centers (YDCs). A notable finding was the high number of complaints originating from schools, with Black and Hispanic youth remaining significantly represented in this category despite a decrease in involvement for white youth. While violent offenses represent a small percentage of complaints, the data highlighted ongoing disparities in how young people of color are involved.

Throughout the discussion, attendees emphasized the importance of addressing underlying factors contributing to these disparities. Several community members highlighted the need for supporting families, building positive connections within peer groups, and investing in community-led initiatives. Assistant Public Defender Suzanna Knox spoke to the importance of accessible resources for families navigating the juvenile justice system. There was a strong consensus on the value of collaborative partnerships between schools, community organizations, and county agencies to provide comprehensive support for at-risk youth. No formal votes were taken during the meeting, but the JCPC committed to using this data to inform their annual planning and resource allocation decisions.

The meeting included valuable public comments, with residents offering insights into the challenges facing young people and advocating for community-based solutions. These comments reinforced the need to address peer group influences, support families, and empower community organizations working directly with youth.

Looking ahead, several key action items emerged from the meeting: Crystal Wood Lewis and her team will continue to provide regular data updates to the JCPC, courts, and community programs. Efforts are underway to develop accessible materials that clearly present the data for parents and community members. The JCPC is actively seeking referrals for the Youth Build program, which provides GED attainment and construction certification to at-risk youth. Finally, a community event focused on addressing opioid and polysubstance use among young people is planned for October 25th. The next JCPC meeting, scheduled for the third Thursday of October from 8:30 to 10 a.m., will continue this important work.

This meeting underscored Buncombe County's ongoing commitment to addressing racial and ethnic disparities within the juvenile justice system. The positive trend of decreasing overall complaints, coupled with a focus on data-driven decision making and community partnerships, offers hope for creating a more equitable and supportive system for all young people in our county. Residents are encouraged to stay informed about these efforts and participate in future JCPC meetings and community events.