South Carolina's juvenile arrest rate for violent crimes increased 3.2% from 2007 to 2008. The juvenile arrest rate for violent crimes has increased 152.9% since 1976.  Of all 46 South Carolina Counties, Spartanburg ranked 32^nd for rate of juvenile arrests for violent crime in  2008.  Of peer counties, only Richland had a lower rate of juvenile arrests for violent crimes.

The juvenile arrest rate for property crimes increased 18.7% from 2007 to 2008, but has decreased 11.6% since 1976.  Of all 46 South Carolina Counties, Spartanburg ranked 24th for rate of juvenile arrests for property crime in 2008.  Of peer counties, only Richland had a lower rate of juvenile arrests for property crimes.

According to the SC Department of Juvenile Justice, while the state as a whole saw a decrease of 4% in juvenile cases between FY 2006/07 and FY 2007/08, Spartanburg County was among 22 of the state’s counties that had increases in the numbers of juvenile cases.  Cases in Spartanburg County increased from 1,053 to 1,122 or by 7%.  The greatest percentage increase (250%) occurred in Fairfield County.

Of the state’s juveniles detained pre and post adjudication, 16% were from Spartanburg County.  Only Charleston County had a higher percentage at 17%.  Spartanburg’s delinquency processing rate of 46 per 1,000 of age-eligible juveniles fell below the state average of 59 per 1,000. 

In FY 2007/08, 13% of juvenile cases sent to the solicitor in Spartanburg County were for violent or serious crimes (state average 9%), while 6% were for status offenses such as truancy (state average 9%).

The rate per 1,000 juveniles age 10-16 detained by DJJ was higher in Spartanburg County than in peer counties, but the rate committed to DJJ facilities was lower or equal Table 19).

Kids Count data from 2004 demonstrate that, of peer counties, only Charleston had a higher than state average percentage of juveniles, age 15-17, referred to court (Figure 6).