The city of Bloomington-Normal is experiencing an escalation in juvenile firearm crimes that has aroused the attention of the local law enforcement agencies. Notably, the average age of individuals involved in gun-related offenses in 2024 was estimated at 19 years. Authorities are attributing this surge to the augmented rates of gun seizures and a hike from 5 to 15 occurrences of minor apprehension in the span of 2023 and 2024. Both police departments of Bloomington-Normal are seeking community collaboration in rectifying this upsurge in gun violence.
Policing, as put forth by Bloomington Police Chief Jamal Simington, is perceived as a collective responsibility that involves the entire community. Despite the overall stability of gun-related violence in the region, there has been worryingly incrementing trend of juvenile involvement in these incidents. Similar to Bloomington, Normal town’s police department has reported a rise in juvenile violent activities. Consequently, this led the department to the recruitment of six additional officers as a proactive measure to counter the increasing service calls.
Interestingly, Bloomington-Normal is characterized by relatively minor violent activity rates, including those involving young offenders. Joanne Savage, a professor of criminal justice studies at Illinois State University, states that certain elements within the community contribute to the persistence of crime. Savage underscores that although cities have unique risk factors that abet violent ill-behavior amongst individuals, most teenagers involved in criminal activities desist as they transition to adulthood.
Gun violence, as per police data, tends to be one perspective towards understanding community safety trends. Another indispensable perspective is court cases. The McLean County circuit clerk has highlighted a drastic increase in juvenile firearm-related cases between 2023 and 2024, with cases escalating up to 14 from a mere four the preceding year.
In a span of five years from 2020 to 2025, 56 gun-linked cases were tried in the juvenile court. This was confirmed by Suzanne Montoya, the McLean County Court Services Director, who also noted that the age group of offenders ranged from 15 to 17 years, with a single exception. Resultantly, 46 of these cases were concluded with offenders being placed on probation. Meanwhile, three minors were committed to the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice with the remaining cases pending.
Charles Bell, another professor of criminal justice studies at Illinois State University, opines that the ongoing pandemic might have significant contribution to the rise in juvenile delinquency. He conjectures that the pandemic has undermined the development of critical skills in adolescents such as problem-solving and conflict resolution. This, in turn, exacerbates the likelihood of their indulgence in criminal behavior.
Officer Bryce Janssen, a representative of Bloomington Police, has suggested that the mounting youth interest in firearms has played a part in rising juvenile crime. Observations have shown that firearms are increasingly being exchanged and glorified on social media platforms among young people. Expert analysts studying violent crime advocate for two primary solutions: providing youth with engaging activities and paying heed to their perspectives.
Bell articulates that the intensified security protocols in schools create a sense of safety for adults but hardly bring peace of mind to the adolescent population. Kevin Jones, a practitioner of restorative justice, concurs by emphasizing that a proactive approach to build a supportive community is instrumental in mitigating youth violence. Jones, who has decades of experience working with the youth and families in McLean County, champions for proactive implementation of restorative justice to achieve substantive measurable outcomes.
Jones serves as the leader of an organization called Pathways 2 Restorative Leadership, where he conducts listening circles. His work majorly involves providing conflict resolution and de-escalation technique training to stakeholders such as police officers, teachers, school administrators, and correctional officers. The objective is to foster understanding and develop effective resolution strategies when dealing with youth engaged in violent activities.
Community engagement units within Bloomington and Normal’s police departments have set up programs aimed at fostering a positive relationship with police officers. The departments host summer youth academies with intent to channel the youth’s understanding of what’s considered ‘cool’, and expose them to potential careers in public safety. Moreover, these initiatives aim to establish connections grounded on positive experiences, ushering the youth away from the path of violence.
An integral component of these programs is redefining the narrative for teenagers, by equipping them with knowledge and skills pertinent to public safety careers. Such initiatives promote positive experiences that could reduce the allure of engaging in criminal activities. Jackson emphasizes the significant yield of restorative justice, especially when implemented early and proactively, driving tangible results on curbing youth violence.