COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- State officials say the number of crimes committed by juveniles in South Carolina is on the decline.

The Greenville News reported Tuesday that the Department of Juvenile Justice has seen a more than 10 percent drop in the number of juvenile cases referred to the agency in six and a half years.

Fewer than 24,000 cases were referred last year. That's down from more than 27,000 case referrals six years ago.

Juvenile Justice director William Byars says efforts by the agency and schools have had some influence on the decrease in juvenile crimes.

The drop in South Carolina also follows a national trend. The U.S. Department of Justice shows a 47 percent drop in the number of juvenile delinquency cases sent to criminal court between 1994 and 2005.

Information from: The Greenville News, http://www.greenvillenews.com

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