The number of juveniles arrested for crimes in Pierce County increased last year, bucking a downward trend in the state.

There were 4,169 juveniles arrested in 2008 in the county, up from 4,019 in 2007, according to a new report by the Governor’s Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee reported.

The number of juvenile arrests in Pierce County has increased 7.4 percent over the past four years, according to statistics provided by the committee.

Overall in the state, the number of juveniles arrested is on the decline.

Last year, 33,736 people under 18 were arrested in the state. That’s the lowest number in nearly three decades and a drop of 6 percent over 2007, when 35,865 juveniles were cuffed, the committee reported.

The statewide number of juveniles arrested has dropped about 8 percent in the past four years.

In King County, the number of juveniles arrested declined 23.8 percent in the past four years. There were 4,945 arrests made last year.

In Thurston County, the number of juveniles arrested declined 40.2 percent between 2004 and 2008. Last year, 878 juveniles were arrested in Thurston County.

In addition, to Pierce County, Chelan, Clark, Cowlitz, Franklin, Garfield, Island, Kitsap, Mason and Spokane counties saw increases in arrests from 2004 to 2008.

Stacey Mulick, The News Tribune