Youth crime rates in Colorado have dropped, but study shows spike in violent crimes

At a glance, crime committed by Colorado juveniles has taken a significant downswing — dropping 29.7% between 2008 and 2022. But, the amount of violent crime has seen a concerning upturn, according to a new study by the Common Sense Institute (CSI), a Denver-based think tank.

While property crimes, like theft and vandalism, have seen a reprieve amongst Colorado minors over the past 15 years, violent crimes like murder and aggravated assault have jumped.

Since 2010, murder committed by juveniles in the state has increased 210%. Aggravated assaults rose by 17% and robbery by 12.3%

The following are rates per 100,000 people for those crimes committed by people under 18

Murder: .2 in 2010, .5 in 2023
Aggravated assaults: 151.2 in 2010, 254.3 in 2023
Robbery: 5.6 in 2010, 6.3 in 2023

"Unfortunately, we are seeing significant increases in violent crimes involving juveniles," Paul Pazen, former Denver Police chief and member of CSI said in a press conference regarding the study. "If we were to pick one of these, we would prefer to have a reduction in violent crime. This increase in violent crime impacts not only Colorado’s vibrancy and economy, but it impacts Colorado individuals."

"We’ve seen a massive increase in the use of firearms and crimes by juveniles as young as 12," Chris Noeller, chief of police for the Pueblo Police Department, said.

Pazen believes that the climb in brazen crimes may be connected to lower incarceration rates among juveniles between 10 and 17 years old, stemming from new state statutes and bills since 2010, he said.

For example, House Bill 12-1139, passed in 2012, requires juveniles in pre-trial detention for criminal offenses to be held in facilities specifically designed for juveniles.

Noeller said that having enough beds for these arrests are causing other juvenile criminals to be put back out on the street, perpetuating the problem that has led to a 7% increase in overall violent crimes since 2010.

"The problem we struggle with is bed space in Public Youth Corrections," he said. "When we arrest an individual for murder, often times in order to get them into a facility like PYC, there’s a necessity to release somebody else that did something a little less minor like shoot up a house in a drive-by."

In Pueblo County, according to Noeller, there are only nine beds for arrested juveniles. He estimated that the county may need three times that amount.

He calls the moving of juveniles around facilities a "shell game," not allowing troubled youth to receive the rehabilitation they need.

These crimes have led to a significant economic impact for Colorado, as well. According to the study, juvenile crime cost the state $3.31 billion in 2023, or $566 per tax payer.

This overall sum includes tangible and intangible costs. Tangible includes things like stolen or damaged property, medical expenses and the cost of police, courts and correctional institutions. Intangible expenses include quality-of-life losses.

Both expenses categories were added for both police-reported and non-police reported juvenile crime.

In asking for more bed space at youth detention facilities, Pazen said: "We don’t want to over-incarcerate young people involved in non-violent crimes."

They just want enough space to be able to "adequately detain and supervise the individuals involved in violent crimes," he said.

CSI describes itself as "a non-partisan research organization dedicated to the protection and promotion of Colorado’s economy."
The Denver Gazette tracked 68 shootings in Denver between June 21 and Sept. 23. These shootings involved 87 victims, based on statistics from the Denver Police Department.

The shootings have contributed to a creeping sense that metro Denver is unsafe. Downtown residents, in particular, have complained that criminals seem emboldened, operating without fear of being caught.