With rising juvenile crime in the Pittsburgh area, a judge says its time to act.
In addition to a higher number of shootings involving teens, there's a series of recent car jackings reportedly carried out by three juvenile boys.
Magisterial District Judge Eugene Ricciardi says it is time to re-open Allegheny County's detention facility.
On the Big K Morning Show, Judge Ricciardi said he believes a public safety emergency should be declared in the county.
"We can't send a juvenile, who could be a danger to the community and to his family, home. It's a joke and the dangerous juveniles, were shipping them out to Westmoreland County. That's comical too, we have to open up the detention facilities."
Last August, State Department of Human Services took Allegheny County's license away to use the Shuman Juvenile Detention Center.
Juveniles who were arrested would be held in the center while they awaited trial, but now they may just end up getting arrested multiple times, just to be set free and roam the streets again.
There are currently hundreds of juveniles on probation, with many wearing monitoring ankle bracelets that they have easily found ways to take off. If they so happen to get caught, all police can do is bring them back to their parents.
Right now, kids can get away with almost anything short of murder, the county has the Shuman Center up for grabs for anyone looking to revamp, operate, or purchase it.
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