By admin 
PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Next month marks one year since Preston’s Law took effect in Arizona. The law created stiffer penalties for attacks carried out by groups of people, but the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office says teen violence in the county is up despite the new law.
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“It’s very concerning,” said Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell.
Instances like a violent attack at a house party in Surprise, to even a teen takeover in California that saw nearly half of the people arrested being from Arizona, are recent examples of teen violence impacting Arizona families.
“We’re seeing an increase in teen violence. We’re definitely, after COVID, we saw teen crime in general fall, but we saw teen violence increase,” Mitchell said.
Governor Katie Hobbs signed Preston’s Law in May 2025, but it did not go into effect until Sept. 26 last year.
As of June 4, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office said that 63 people had been charged under Preston’s Law.
In just a couple of months, through Aug. 12, that number jumped to 124 people, according to officials.
“It’s startling. It’s terrifying. It’s scary,” said Katey McPherson, a Youth Safety Advocate.
McPherson said she was hopeful Preston’s Law would help reduce teen violence, but said she knew the law would only be part of the solution.
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“This law is great, but it can only work in tandem with things like better parenting, more community engagement, local governments working with parents. Like, we all have to come together,” McPherson said.
Mitchell said she hopes the longer Preston’s Law is on the books, the more impact it will have.
“We’re taking this type of behavior seriously because it can turn so awful, like it did with Preston. And so we’ve charged quite a few people, juveniles and adults, under Preston’s Law. And hopefully it gets their attention before they continue on and commit a homicide like happened with Preston Lord,” Mitchell said.
Of the 124 people charged under Preston’s Law, 45 of them have been adults and 79 have been juveniles.
The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office also recently launched a Teen Advisory Council, giving teens a chance to talk directly to prosecutors about what they’re seeing when it comes to teen violence.
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