In one of many efforts to address crime issues in Montgomery and other metro areas in the state, State Rep. Reed Ingram (R-Pike Road) has pre-filed a bill for the 2025 legislative session to create a compulsory intervention program for non-violent juvenile offenders.
Ingram has made 2025 his year of tackling crime in Montgomery and similar municipalities in the state. Earlier this year, he pre-filed House Bill 14 (HB14), allowing the governor or attorney general to appoint an interim police chief in municipalities where crime has gone out of control.
His newest bill, House Bill 33 (HB33), would require the Department of Youth Services to create a pilot program in certain counties to provide a process for detaining children who commit a non-violent offense in a juvenile detention facility and requiring them to complete an intervention class.
It would also require the child and a parent, legal guardian or legal custodian to complete the intervention class as well.
The program would only be active in five counties with a high number of delinquency cases and adjudications and a high population as determined by the 2020 census.
Ingram told 1819 News that the bill came from the shockingly high number of juveniles who end up committing violent crimes in the state's metro areas, and an intervention program could steer young people away from more serious crimes before becoming wards of the state's prison system.
"When somebody gets incarcerated inside of a city for a felony, the city doesn't pay any bills on them," Ingram told 1819 News "They don't try them, they don't house them, they don't do anything After they investigate the case and they get ready for trial, after they get convicted, they go straight to one of the state penitentiaries, and we have to pay for them So, over 50% of these crimes come from these five larger counties So, more than 50% of the people incarcerated in Alabama are coming out of these five areas So, I feel like it's recruiting the team early If we can get these young boys and girls when they get into a little bit of trouble, where we can get a state trooper in front of them for an intervention, and we keep track of them until they get out of juvenile age, we can see the success of this."
"This class is taught only by the state troopers, not anybody from the city, not anybody from the county, just a uniformed state trooper," he added.
Ingram said the classes would only be taught five days a week, and each class encompasses two hours of instruction. The parent or legal guardian would also be required to pass a written test along with the juvenile before completing the program.
"If the guardian does not show up, there will be a warrant sworn out for their arrest," Ingram said. "There will be consequences. This program is about making sure that we have a good parent or a good guardian in that child's life and knowing what's going on in their home. Make sure that child is in school and that they're staying in school. A lot of these kids aren't even living at home. They may be 15,16 or 17 years old and staying with a gang member or staying on the street. And we want to make sure there's a parent in their life who knows what's going on. So, I think this is how we can get a handle on this crime Because a lot of times, these municipalities don't have consequences for somebody shoplifting or breaking into somebody's car. So, this will be a mandatory program for those committing non-violent crimes.
In stark contrast to HB14, Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed has voiced support for holding parents and guardians accountable for their ward's criminal behavior. Reed said he was open to the idea at a town hall in July.
"We certainly are at a point where we believe parents have to be more involved and engaged with knowing where their young people are and, more importantly, what they're doing and who they are doing it with," Reed said. "And it can't be up to the men and women in blue to be mothers and fathers in the streets and teaching them that."
If passed, HB33 would take effect on June 1, 2025, and expire on October 1, 2030. However, Ingram said the program could be continued past that time if it shows success.
The 2025 legislative session is slated to commence in February 2025, according to Ingram.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email craig.monger@1819news.com.
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