Tarrant County’s Most Common Juvenile Crimes
Juvenile crimes are on the rise in North Texas. In 2023, Tarrant County Juvenile Services saw a 13.5 percent increase in formal referrals, totaling 3,576 cases — the highest in recent years. These numbers highlight a concerning trend that demands attention from parents, educators, and the legal system alike.
In the article below, juvenile defense attorney Lisa Herrick of Varghese Summersett breaks down the data and shares insights into the top five offenses committed by minors in Tarrant County — what they are, why they’re happening, and how families can respond. But first, please watch this informative video.
Top 5 Juvenile Crimes in Tarrant County
Below are the five most common juvenile offenses in Tarrant County, based on the latest data. While the circumstances vary, these charges share one thing in common: they can have a serious impact on a young person’s future.
1. Misdemeanor Assault
Misdemeanor assault was the most common juvenile offense in 2023, with 1067 referrals to Tarrant County Juvenile Services.
Varghese Summersett’s juvenile attorney Lisa Herrick was not surprised.
Misdemeanor assault has been the most common juvenile case in Tarrant County for years. The two most common misdemeanor assault charges are assault by contact and assault causing bodily injury. In assault by contact charges, someone only needs to allege that you offensively touched them. Assault causing bodily injury includes the other person alleging they feel pain. The person isn’t required to show any visible evidence of injury.
“Typically, these cases include fights between students at school or between members of the same household. Somebody might have a black eye or a bloody nose, but hospital visits aren’t terribly common,” Lisa said.
2. Felony Drug Offenses
Felony drug offenses have increased in Tarrant County over the past five years. There were 448 felony drug offenses referred to juvenile authorities by police agencies in 2023, compared to 312 the year before.
The Texas Health and Safety Code makes the manufacture, delivery, or possession with the intent to deliver Penalty Group 1 controlled substances, such as cocaine, opiates, opioids, heroin, or methamphetamine, felony drug offenses. It also includes drugs classified as Penalty Group 2, such as THC oil, wax, dabs, ecstasy, and Adderall. Penalty Group 3 contains depressants and stimulants. Penalty Group 4 contains prescription medications that are subject to abuse.
“Nine times out of 10, these cases are related to a vape pen containing THC,” Lisa said.
3. Aggravated Assault
This offense has stayed relatively steady in Tarrant County over the past five years. In 2023, 346 cases of felony assault were referred to juvenile authorities, compared to 315 the year before.
Aggravated assault includes causing serious bodily injury. Serious bodily injury means the loss of the use of a body part or permanent disfigurement. You could be charged for this offense if you cause another person injury while using what could be considered a deadly weapon. In this situation, a deadly weapon could be a person’s fist, a knife, a handgun, or a bat. A threat made to a person while holding a deadly weapon could also be considered aggravated assault under Texas law.
“These cases often involve fights that escalate when a weapon is introduced,” Lisa said. “It could be something as simple as a fistfight that turns far more serious because someone brings in a knife or a gun,” Lisa said.
4. Misdemeanor Theft
Misdemeanor theft is one of the most common offenses among juveniles, with 121 cases referred to Tarrant County juvenile authorities in 2023—the most recent year for which complete data is available.
Under the Texas Penal Code, misdemeanor theft is defined as the unlawful appropriation of property with the intent to deprive the owner, typically involving items valued at less than $2,500. These are non-violent offenses that do not involve physical harm or threats to another person.
“These are non-violent actions that didn’t involve harm or a threat to another person,” explained Partner Lisa Herrick. “For example, shoplifting clothes or electronics.”
This differs significantly from robbery, which involves not only the taking of property but also the use or threat of force against another person.
5. Sexual Assault
In 2023, 73 cases were referred to the Tarrant County juvenile authorities – the same number as the year before.
Texas Penal Code Section 22.011 defines sexual assault as a person who:
- Intentionally or knowingly causes the penetration of the anus or sexual organ of another person by any means, without that person’s consent; or
- Causes the penetration of the mouth of another person by the sexual organ of the actor without that person’s consent; or
- Causes the sexual organ of another person, without that person’s consent, to contact or penetrate the mouth, anus or sexual organ of another person, including the actor.
“Sexual assault cases are among the most serious and sensitive matters we see in the juvenile system,” Lisa said. “They carry severe consequences, not only legally but also emotionally for everyone involved.”
When are Juvenile Cases Referred to the Tarrant County Juvenile System?
In Tarrant County, minors accused of juvenile crimes are referred to Tarrant County Juvenile Services, the agency responsible for handling delinquent conduct, including both misdemeanor and felony offenses. Referrals can also occur for probation violations.
A formal referral happens when there is face-to-face contact between the juvenile and the probation department. These referrals typically come from either a law enforcement agency or the probation department itself.
Two Ways Juvenile Crime Cases are Referred to Tarrant County Juvenile Services
Juvenile crimes in Tarrant County are handled by Tarrant County Juvenile Services, which receives cases through two primary types of referrals:
Out-of-Custody Referrals: When a minor is accused of a juvenile crime but not taken into custody, the referring agency notifies Tarrant County Juvenile Services. A letter is then sent to the juvenile’s residence requesting that they appear for intake and processing. Once the juvenile reports for intake, the referral becomes formal.
In-Custody Referrals: In more serious juvenile crime cases, law enforcement may take the minor into custody and transport them directly to the Lynn W. Ross Detention Center for processing and temporary detainment.
The Age Breakdown of Tarrant County Juvenile Cases
In 2023, Tarrant County reported 3,576 juvenile referrals, 67 percent of which were male. Here’s a look at the percentage of referrals by age:
| Age | Rate |
|---|---|
| 16 | 29% |
| 15 | 25% |
| 14 | 19% |
| 13 | 12% |
| 13 | 7% |
| 12 | 7% |
| 11 | 2% |
| 10 | 1% |
Need a Juvenile Attorney? Call Lisa Herrick at Varghese Summersett.
If your child has been detained by Tarrant County Juvenile Services, you need an experienced juvenile defense attorney on their side. Attorney Lisa Herrick is one of only three Board Certified attorneys in Juvenile Law in Tarrant County. She is a specialist in handling the complexities of juvenile and young adult crimes. For a free consultation, call her at 817-203-2220.
