Loitering, on the rise, is seen by many as precursor to juvenile crime

Metro Police, as well as a number of Nashville neighborhood associations, are concerned recent increases in late-night loitering may be partly responsible for the staggering rise in violent crime committed by juveniles.

In various neighborhoods across the city, community activists have consistently said they have noticed a recent rise in the number of juveniles who are simply hanging out late, even as most of those community leaders add crime in general has dissipated over the past few years.

Figures compiled by the Metro Police Department during the first six months of 2006 show that juvenile arrests for violent crime are up 20 percent compared to the first half of 2005.

The number of juvenile arrests for violent robbery offenses rose by 77 percent compared to figures from the first six months of 2005.