NCJ Number
167144
Journal
Journal for Juvenile Justice and Detention Services Volume: 12 Issue: 1 Dated: (Spring 1997) Pages: 1-10
Date Published
1997
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This study examines where juvenile homicides occur and the relationship between transferring children to adult court and violence; recommendations are offered for addressing juvenile violence.
Abstract
Data analysis show that six States account for more than half of the Nation's juvenile homicide arrests, and just four cities account for nearly one-third of the juvenile homicide arrests. These cities -- Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, and Detroit -- contain 3.7 million juveniles, just 5.3 percent of the juveniles nationwide. The transferring of more juveniles to adult court is being promoted as an effort to increase public safety. This study examined whether States with high levels of juvenile transfers to adult court have lower rates of juvenile homicide. The analysis found no correlation between rates of transfer and rates of juvenile homicide. Further, data analysis shows that the increase in juvenile homicides over the past 10 years is linked to firearms. Until the mid-1980's the rates of juvenile homicide were relatively stable, and the weapons used in the offenses were closely split between guns and other weapons. In 1987 this started to change. The number of juvenile homicides with a firearm started to spiral upward, and the number of non-firearm homicides stayed steady or decreased. By 1991 nearly 80 percent of the youth homicides were committed with firearms. The homicide data corroborate other data about the prevalence of guns among youth in America. Because of the concentration of juvenile homicides in America's largest cities, a focused intervention approach aimed at identified cities is recommended. Targeting gun abatement, youth employment, and increased recreational opportunities should yield the highest return in terms of reducing violent juvenile crime. 9 figures, 3 notes, and 16 references