BY THE NUMBERSOf bonds magistrates set at $100,000 or more from Dec. 1, 2011, to April 14:• 21 homicide or attempted homicide charges• 9 drug cases• 8 aggravated assaults• 2 sexual offenses• 2 arsons• 2 robberies or burglaries• 1 kidnapping• 1 domestic abuseSource: Chief Magistrate Larry Ables
Violent crime has ticked upward since Dec. 1, 2011, Hamilton County's chief magistrate told county commissioners this week.
"It is slightly elevated," Chief Magistrate Larry Ables said of his recent reporting period, which covered Dec. 1 to April 14. "There's been an increase in the number of activities, but there's also an increase in the number of defendants per activity."
Magistrates issue warrants and set bonds. High bonds are set for a number of reasons, including the severity of the crime and whether the suspect is a flight risk.
In the reporting period, 53 criminal defendants, who racked up a total of 210 charges, received bonds of $100,000 or higher, Ables said Wednesday.
"Obviously, it's a concern of the County Commission that violence has to be brought under control," Commissioner Mitch McClure said. "That included those that were on the Christmas Day shooting."
A drive-by shooting outside a Market Street teen club injured nine after a Christmas Eve party.
Another person was shot after midnight in what police believe was a related incident.
Ables' report is one of two commissioners recently have received on criminal offenders.
McClure, chairman of the Security and Corrections Committee, presented a 446-page report in March on repeat offenders.
Commissioners have not taken any action on the March report, which Commissioner Fred Skillern requested.
"We have no role in sentencing. We have no role in incarcerating. It is our job to equip through the budgetary process those who do those things," McClure said Thursday. "The County Commission has to be careful not to overstep its boundaries."