TX- Dallas County needs treatment program for young female sex offenders

4-10-2009 Texas:

Dallas County's juvenile department is seeing an alarming crime trend among young girls.

The number of misdemeanors committed last year by girls was up 73 percent since 1995. Assaults, for example, were up 47 percent. Disorderly conduct cases more than doubled.

Surprisingly, boys are becoming better behaved. Criminal cases filed against them during the same period were down in just about every category, according to juvenile department stats.

While girls are committing fewer felonies overall, the number of sexual assaults is creeping upward. The numbers, however, are not very big. Five girls entered the juvenile system in 2000 for sex offenses. That number peaked in 2006 at 11. It was down to six last year.

Still, the county is currently in need of a sex offender treatment program for girls.

The county had contracted with Totally Fit Ministries Inc. out of Harris County this fiscal year for residential sex offender treatment for girls. But the county suspended the contract in February after the state began investigating abuse allegations at the facility.

The juvenile department has therefore recommended that county commissioners hire 4M Youth Services Inc., out of Milam County, to provide this service for girls.

No action has yet been taken. ..News Source.. by Kevin Krause, Reporter