Bismarck police issued 46 percent fewer felony citations to juveniles in 2006 than in 2005, but the total number of juvenile citations issued jumped more than 17 percent.

Officers gave out 50 felony citations in 2006, compared to 90 in 2005, according to statistics released by the Bismarck Police Department.

Lt. Dan Donlin, who heads up the department's Police Youth Bureau, said the drop was contributed to, in part, by a significant decrease in the number of felony citations for breaking into a motor vehicle. In 2005, 29 citations were issued for that offense, but five were issued in 2006.

Total juvenile citations, which include felony and misdemeanor offenses, jumped from 1,692 in 2005 to 1,985 in 2006. Donlin said the increase in citations may be attributed to population growth and increased enforcement.

Officers issued 69 citations for discharging a firearm in city limits, which Donlin said can be traced to a summer vandalism spree. In 2005, two citations were issued for the same offense.

Terrorizing and harassment citations rose from four in 2005 to 12 in 2006 and from one in 2005 to seven in 2006, respectively. Donlin said police are not putting up with bullying behaviors.

"We're not tolerating a lot of threatening behavior and talk," he said.

Other offenses for which increased numbers of juvenile citations were issued in 2006 include assault, burglary, ingestion or consumption of marijuana and runaway. Citations that decreased include smoking or tobacco violations, theft of property and curfew.

Disorderly conduct, with 183, and unruly juvenile, with 180, were the second and third most issued citations. Combining the numbers of those "catch all" offense classifications doesn't equal the top citation, though, Donlin said.

"They still don't reach our No. 1 citation: minor in possession or consumption," he said.

Minor in possession or consumption of alcohol citations rose 21.52 percent from 2005 to 2006, with 367 citations issued in 2006, compared to 302 in 2005.

The increased number of citations for underage drinking reflects the additional enforcement effort officers put into stopping teens from drinking, Donlin said.

"We are pretty aggressive about underage drinking,"he said.

Donlin said some people disagree with the heavy enforcement of drinking-age laws, but police believe the effort is worthwhile. Underage drinking has caused automobile wrecks and alcohol poisoning that have led to the deaths of young people in the community, he said.

"It's all happened in our community," he said. "It's important for parents to set the example."

While the number of young people cited for offenses increased, Donlin said the numbers do not reflect most children and teenagers.

"The vast majority of the kids are making great, positive choices," he said.

(Reach reporter Jenny Michael at 250-8225 or jenny.michael@;bismarcktribune.com.)