ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO – Albuquerque Police say they’re taking a comprehensive approach to address youth violence in the city.
APD’s Digital Intelligence Team is playing a key role by uncovering threats and evidence online, where many juvenile cases begin. The team’s work has already supported prosecutions, testifying in 21 homicide cases this year.
On the prevention side, APD partners with the city’s Violence Intervention Program, which steps in after high-risk or traumatic incidents to prevent retaliation and connect families to resources. Officials report that 92.6% of youth who received intervention have not committed violent crimes in the past two years.
Youth Crime Trends
- Juvenile crime statewide has risen since the pandemic, with more aggravated assaults and weapons cases reported. In 2024, there were 7,634 reports of crimes by minors under 18, two-thirds handled informally by CYFD rather than courts.
- In Bernalillo County, violent crimes by youth are at their highest in four years, with a spike among 16- and 17-year-olds. This year, there have been over 500 juvenile criminal cases, including 16 homicides and 83 involving firearms.
- APD says 36% of homicide suspects in 2024 were between 18 and 25, showing younger offenders are a growing concern.
Police say the strategy combines stronger cases through digital evidence with early intervention for at-risk youth, aiming to reduce repeat offenses and keep communities safer.
