By Kolby R. LaMarche

Burlington is confronting a sharp rise in youth-related crime, with violent incidents involving teens popping up in headlines across the city.

On August 18, three youths, aged 14 to 16, fatally beat a man near City Hall, one flashing a gun. On August 12th, a group of teens assaulted a man near Walnut and Archibald Street. Back in August of last year a 17-year-old was shot in the chest at A_Dog Skatepark, surrounded by armed teens. And throughout this year and last, car thefts involving teens have also been on the rise.

Of 74 homicides statewide from 2022 to 2024, 28 involved out-of-state suspects or victims, many tied to this trade.

Local factors like poverty, substance misuse, and negative home environments also drive youth crime, per the Burlington Community Justice Center’s Youth Substance Awareness Safety Program (YSASP).

Vermont’s laws emphasize rehabilitation for young offenders, recognizing that brains aren’t fully developed until the mid-20s. The 2018 “Raise the Age” law, Act 201, treats 18-year-olds as juveniles in Family Court, with plans to include 19-year-olds by April 2025. Governor Phil Scott wants to pause this, telling the media in January that violent youth crimes need stronger accountability.

Delays in opening a secure juvenile facility, after the 2020 closure of Woodside, strain the system. Youths under 22 can have cases moved to Family Court, where proceedings are private and jail isn’t an option.

The three teens in the City Hall assault face Family Court, but limited rehabilitation services hinder outcomes, per Vermont Daily Chronicle. Courts weigh mental health and community ties to help youths “age out of crime,” per the Vermont Judiciary.

The Burlington Community Justice Center (BCJC) offers restorative programs to steer youthful offenders away from crime, emphasizing accountability and “community healing”.  For low-level misdemeanors and first-time offenses, the Burlington Police Department refers youths directly to BCJC, a practice ongoing since 2005. 

The Balanced and Restorative Justice (BARJ) program, funded by Vermont’s Department for Children and Families, targets at-risk youths to prevent deeper system involvement, offering interventions to reduce risk factors like peer influence while building protective factors like family support. Court Diversion provides an alternative to traditional prosecution, allowing state’s attorneys to refer charged youths to community-based processes where they reflect on their actions and repair harm. 

Afterschool and summer programs are vital for curbing youth crime, offering supportive spaces and positive role models and filling teens’ free time.

The Burlington School District’s Expanded Learning Opportunities program serves over 1,700 students annually, with 500 in summer programs gaining math and reading skills through field trips and enrichment activities. According to the Council for a Strong America, afterschool programs cut juvenile crime by almost 70% nationwide during peak hours (2–6 p.m.).

Programs like the Greater Burlington YMCA and Boys and Girls Club also provide homework help, sports, and arts, and build youths’ social skills. Vermont Afterschool’s 2023 data shows 27,136 kids would join summer programs if available. With BPD down to 68 officers from 105 in 2020, these programs ease police strain by preventing risky behaviors, per the Afterschool Alliance.

Community awareness is intensifying, however. Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak’s safety forums have recently featured discussions about youthful offenders, with the Mayor’s chief of staff saying, “Concerns [from residents] included the fact that there’s a gun problem and that that gun problem extends to kids possessing guns. And a lack of places for kids to go,” she said. The next forum is scheduled for November 7.

Nationally, youth involvement in crime has also sparked debate over punishments. In August 2025, President Donald Trump pushed to charge youthful offenders as adults. After two 15-year-old alleged gang members were arrested for assaulting a man in a D.C. carjacking attempt, Trump called for teens as young as 14 to face adult charges for violent crimes. He criticized D.C.’s laws, which previously allowed some offenders up to age 24 to be treated as juveniles, per the D.C. CRIMES Act (H.R.4922).