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Mohave County probation officials report rise in juvenile weapons referrals and ADJC commitments
Summary
Mohave County Probation Department and juvenile stakeholders told the board that violent- and weapons-related juvenile referrals have risen since 2022, that Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections commitments climbed, and that local agencies are expanding coordination, canine detection support and gun-safety education.
Mohave County juvenile probation leaders on April 21 briefed the Board of Supervisors on an increase in youth violence and weapons offenses, described local trends that officials said track statewide concerns, and outlined immediate and planned responses.
Why it matters: County juvenile referral volumes and the number of juveniles committed to the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections (ADJC) affect detention needs, probation caseloads and public-safety planning. Officials said the trend includes more firearm involvement, often tied to motor-vehicle burglaries.
Juvenile Court Services Director Josh Frisbie and Deputy Director Natalie Eggers presented data showing a rise after 2022 in both total referrals and violent- or weapons-related referrals. Eggers said that in fiscal year 2017 Mohave County had 23 violent or weapons referrals (1.58% of total referrals) and that by fiscal year 2024 the county recorded 51 weapons referrals representing 3.68% of total referrals. The department also reported a surge in vehicle burglaries yielding firearms and an age concentration of offenders at about 15'16 years old.
The department highlighted ADJC commitment counts: a statewide snapshot showed 15 youth in December 2023, 14 in May 2024 and 26 in December 2024; Mohave County ranked second in ADJC commitments after Maricopa County in the December 2024 snapshot, the presentation said. For FY2025 through early April the department said it had received 13 weapons referrals since January 1, an average of about three per month.
Responses and initiatives: Probation leaders described local steps including stakeholder meetings (first held March 26 with judges, law enforcement, school personnel and mental-health professionals), cross-agency information sharing, and a "gentleman's agreement" with San Bernardino County Probation for use of a gun-detection canine for probation search activity. The county is also collaborating with the Administrative Office of the Courts and the Arizona Supreme Court to develop a statewide gun-safety curriculum the county could provide to youth on probation and in detention. Frisbie said probation is distributing gun locks to families to support safe storage.
Supervisor feedback: Supervisors suggested available training programs be considered for pilots. Supervisor Don Martin recommended exploring Arizona Game and Fish hunter-education courses for juveniles convicted of lesser firearm offenses; Supervisor Gould noted the Eddie Eagle gun-safety program as an option for young children.
No formal board action was taken; probation leaders said they will continue stakeholder coordination and report back on pilot programs and curriculum development.
