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San Francisco has witnessed an increase in violent felonies committed by juveniles this year, according to the city's juvenile probation department data. Despite a significant decrease in juvenile robbery arrests over the past two decades, as indicated by FBI crime data, there have been 131 more robberies in the city compared to the same period last year, totaling 1,003 since January.
Juvenile offenders, typically aged between 12 and 14 years old, often work in groups and target elderly victims. They are believed to come from various locations, such as the East Bay, group homes down south, or the Valley. Recently, the Oakland Police Department arrested nine juveniles suspected of being responsible for 35 robberies in Oakland. Some of these juveniles have also been involved in robberies in San Francisco.
The San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) has observed an increase in the violence of attacks involving juveniles. However, there is insufficient data to determine if the uptick in violent robberies across the city is solely tied to juveniles. The number of arrests in San Francisco has dropped dramatically over the last two decades. In 1995, more than 500 juveniles were arrested for robberies, decreasing to 180 by 2010, and further dropping into the 20s between 2019 and 2021.
Despite the steady increase in juveniles committing serious and violent felonies (707B offenses), the numbers remain small. In March, there were 74 juvenile cases referred to court, a 45% increase compared to the average last year, and 30 admissions to juvenile hall. SFPD data reveals a slight uptick in homicides and motor vehicle thefts across the city this year. However, other violent crimes, such as rapes, assaults, burglary, and larceny theft, have decreased compared to last year. Larceny theft accounts for the most crimes committed, with more than 11,000 cases, down from 13,000 last year.
The San Francisco Police Officers' Association has supported repealing Prop 47, but supporters of the legislation argue that California is one of 12 states with the toughest property crime laws in the country. This ongoing debate highlights the need for further research and discussion to better understand the factors contributing to the rise in violent juvenile robberies in San Francisco.
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