In 1998, one-third of all victims of violent crime were teenagers ages 12-19. Almost 50% of all violent crimes were committed by persons under the age of 25. Homicide was the second leading cause of deaths for 15-24 year olds. In 2006, 1,539 murder victims were under the age of 18. Those committing homicide, 1,111 were offenders under the age of 18. 15% of all arrests in 2006 were done to individuals under the age of 18.
We hear in the news daily how the percentages of crimes in our youth is dramatically increasing. It is not unfamiliar to hear a headline of a shooting death of teens or of a teen assault. Let's look at the numbers again, according to the U.S. Justice department in 1998 50% of all violent crimes were committed by young people, yet in 2006 only 15% of ALL arrests (including violent and non violent crimes) was of those under 18. Is that a dramatic increase. Many politicians and news media are obsessed with crime committed by teens. In reality crime statistics show that the youth of today are not any more criminally inclined than in previous generations. But think about it, what sells better - number of crime victims or number of youth volunteers. In actuality, youth felony crimes over the past 20 years have been on the decline while rates for those over the age of 30 have increased.
The numbers are available for anyone to look at through either the U.S. Justice Department Website or through the Federal Bureau of Investigations website. In the 1990's the teen population was increasing just as fast as the general population was. The popular myth that as the teen population increases so does crime is false. It is just a myth.
In today's society we read sensationalized headlines like the Jenna 6 case. It makes for good TV. It sells newspapers. Teens choosing to do positive things in the community does not sell and ends up either in the corner of page 20 of the newspaper of worse yet in the "if we need a filler" pile. How do I know this, I submit articles on a regular basis to the news media - all of a positive nature. I asked editors why they choose one article over another. "To make a clear cut statement - we print what sells not what is nice to read."
So who is to blame? The media? Or those buying into the headlines?
Something to think about the next time you read about teen statistics. Or perhaps any statistics.
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Bright blessings,
Ashira
http://ashirarhapsody.webs.com/
FFWA Member
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