Nevada sees increase in number of girls committing serious crimes

Siobhan McDonough

Thursday, Feb. 22, 2001 | 4:54 a.m.

CARSON CITY, Nev. - Nevada lawmakers were told Thursday that they needed to spend more money to counter a growing trend of girls abusing alcohol and drugs and committing ever more serious crimes.

"I see bolder and bolder girls. I see girls committing more thefts and burglaries," Douglas County District Judge Dave Gamble told a joint budget subcommittee.

"We're a little behind the curve in providing for girls. Historically, we didn't have so many girls violating, doing serious offenses."

Despite an overall reduction in juvenile crime, serious offenses committed by girls are increasing. They're not just runaways or petty crime cases, said Willie Smith, the state's deputy administrator for youth corrections.

"They're more involved with the felony type crimes," she said.

In 1998, the total number of girls in Nevada's juvenile courts was 7,665. That number was up to 8,433 in 2000. A breakdown of their offenses wasn't immediately available.

"We have to address the facilities for girls. We don't have the breadth and range of treatment programs for girls that we do for boys," he said.

Gamble pointed out the high percentage of delinquent youths who abuse drugs and alcohol.

"The treatment aspect is of utmost importance. It is nearly always a component in the placement of people at prisons and in youth camps," he said.

"There have been many young men we've been able to turn around to a new life. If we get them early, change the attitudes early, they can see the benefits of leading a life without crime. They don't graduate to the prisons," he said.

But Smith said funds for program expansions are sometimes lacking.

"Substance abuse is linked with delinquency," Smith added. "Getting the youths into treatment is limited by the dollars we have to get them into a program."

Assemblywoman Sheila Leslie, D-Reno, said she has a bill draft asking for $900,000 to go to Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Abuse for community-based substance abuse prevention programs.

"Nevada has very poor stats in adolescents and substance abuse. We do not have sufficient prevention and treatment and we have terrible outcomes," said Leslie, adding that only about 60 percent of youths who have drug or alcohol problems can get treatment.

"We should have treatment available on demand. They should be able to get it today and not have to wait," Leslie said.

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