LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – The last day of school for districts like Lubbock ISD means kids will be out around town looking for things to do and potentially getting in trouble.
Lieutenant Brady Cross says this time of year brings increased rates of juvenile mischief.
“We typically, historically, see a rise in juvenile activity – not always crime, but they’re out and about just like everyone else during the summertime,” Cross said. “We’re cognizant of that and if we run into behavior or an offense that warrants an arrest our officers certainly make that arrest if we need to.”
Lubbock Police Department data indicates juvenile crime rates are falling year over year.
Charges between May and August from 2023-2025(Lubbock Police Department)
While the number of charges are decreasing, though, LPD data indicates the offenses are becoming more violent.
Top 10 juvenile charges in summer 2025(Lubbock Police Department)
“It’s not knocking on someone’s door and running away, unfortunately crime looks different now,” Cross said. “It looks like kids who are together unsupervised specifically in large groups – we saw organized crime as one of the higher arrested offenses and that’s three or more in a group which leads to bad choices and unfortunately leads to assaultive offenses that includes with guns.”
Guns remain a major target for kids. Police ask residents to keep guns out of their cars, locked up or on their person.
“Guns are currency, might as well be,” Cross said. “They are traded for money and drugs, you name it. They change hands a lot and they can make it all throughout the state and all throughout the country. Don’t kid yourself – guns that are stolen in burglaries or thefts here in Lubbock make their way across the country and are used elsewhere.”
Cross says the best thing a parent can do for their child is to know where they are and who they’re with this summer.
“Monitoring what their kids are doing or even just seeing where they are, tracking their phones – that’s okay,” Cross said. “If you pay for that phone you can know where that is. Your kids are probably tethered to their phone so if you know where that phone is you probably know where that child is. So I think all of those things – education, kids making better choices, parents and guardians being more involved – I would like to think that’s leading the trend in fewer arrests.”
The City of Lubbock no longer has a curfew for juveniles.
City parks and playgrounds do have curfews for everyone, though. Parks are closed every night 12-5 A.M.
Playgrounds are closed 10 P.M. – 7 A.M.
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