As the number of juvenile offenders climbs, the state is looking at alternatives crowded detention centers to make sure young people already convicted of crimes can turn their lives around. 

Education, skills and rehab focus easing burden on NC juvenile justice system

Inside the juvenile justice system

Siren will officially begin her career as a therapy dog at the Durham Police Department on Friday. 

Durham Police Department welcomes new therapy dog Siren

Durham Police Department therapy dog Siren

All assets associated with the tag: Smithfield-Selma High School

Smithfield-Selma High School Coverage

There have been several fights in recent months involving Latino students at Smithfield-Selma High School in Smithfield. The community organization Latinos Activate is demanding action to address the issue and prevent further escalation.

MUCH OF THIS STORY AS IT DEVELOPS THIS EVENING IN THE LIVE CENTER. BACK TO YOU. MARK. THANK YOU FOR THAT UPDATE TONIGHT. THERE'S GROWING CONCERN AMONG SOME JOHNSTON COUNTY PARENTS AS SCHOOL FIGHTS ESCALATE. >> BUT HE KNOWS ACTIVATE RAISED AWARENESS ABOUT THIS ISSUE WITH THE JOHNSTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOLLOWING MULTIPLE FIGHTS AT SMITHFIELD, SELMA, HIGH SCHOOL WRAL'S JULIAN GRACE FOUND OUT WHY THE GROUP FEELS THEIR CONCERNS ARE OVERLOOKED. >> PARENTS SAY THEY'VE TAKEN ALL THE NECESSARY STEPS AFTER SEVERAL FIGHTS HERE AT SMITHFIELD, SELMA, HIGH SCHOOL. BUT THEY SAY THE BIGGER PROBLEM IS THAT THEY HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY RESPONSE FROM THE DISTRICT BACK IN OCTOBER. THIS LETTER WAS CRAFTED AFTER A FIGHT INVOLVING A LATINO STUDENT AT SMITHFIELD SELMA HIGH SCHOOL DURING THE FIRE. RACIAL SLURS WERE THROWN AROUND. >> IT GOT SO BAD THAT THIS POLICE REPORT WAS FILED BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO PREVENT A CATASTROPHE. BUT ALTHOUGH THE LETTER IS THIS MAN, SERGIO BENITEZ, WHO IS PRESIDENT OF THE LATINO, ACTIVATE HE REPRESENTS LATINO PARENTS THAT MAY BE TOO AFRAID TO SPEAK UP. SO WE WROTE THIS LETTER TO THE JOHNSTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS OFFERING TO HELP PROVIDE SOLUTIONS TO THE TENSIONS. HERRO DID BACK IN OCTOBER. BUT HE SAYS HE NEVER RECEIVED A CALL. A COUPLE MONTHS LATER, THERE WERE MORE FIGHTS INVOLVING LATINO STUDENTS AND THIS TIME BENITEZ, HIS MESSAGE STRAIGHT TO THE SCHOOL BOARD YOU BECAUSE HE WAS CONCERNED THAT LATINO STUDENTS WERE BEING TARGETED. WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD SO FAR? I HAVEN'T HIT YOU STATED. I MADE A NICE LETTER. YOU NOTICE PRESSING THE CONCERNS THAT OUR COMMUNITY AND >> WILLING TO OFFER OFFER INTO WHAT WITH THEM. YOU KNOW, TOO. I TALKED WITH THE SITUATION THAT WE LIVE IN. AND SO TODAY WE WENT TO THE JOHNSTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL HEADQUARTERS AND WE RECEIVED THIS STATEMENT. IT READS IN PART, SCHOOL OFFICIALS FOLLOWED STANDARD PROCEDURES FOLLOWING THE INCIDENT PER LAW. THE DISTRICT IS NOT PERMITTED TO SHARE CONFIDENTIAL STUDENT INFORMATION OR DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS. LAW ENFORCEMENT IS INFORMED OF ALL INCIDENTS INVOLVING PHYSICAL ALTERCATION. HOWEVER, WE DID LEARN THROUGH THE DISTRICT THERE HAVE BEEN SUBSTANTIAL DISCUSSIONS BEHIND THE SCENES INVOLVING THE RECENT FIGHTS. AS FOR BENITEZ, HE SAYS HE'S AMPLIFYING THIS ISSUE BECAUSE HE WAS THE CONFLICT RESOLVED AND HE WANTS TO PREVENT ESCALATION IN 2024 AND THEN TRYING TO PREVENT. >> INTO THAT IS WHAT IT CAN BE A KING. IT CAN TURN OUT REALLY BAD FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY REPORTING IN JOHNSTON

Latino organization asking Johnston County Public Schools to do more to address fighting

Volunteer group calls for solutions after fights involving Latino students at Johnston County high school

Smithfield-Selma High School

A Smithfield-Selma High School student is now among a special group of students invited inside the halls of power in Washington, D.C.,for a full week in March.

Smithfield-Selma High School Coverage

Latino organization asking Johnston County Public Schools to do more to address fighting

Volunteer group calls for solutions after fights involving Latino students at Johnston County high school

Smithfield-Selma student gets week inside Washington, D.C. halls of power