NCJ Number
150059
Journal
State Government News Volume: 37 Issue: 8 Dated: (August 1994) Pages: 22-27
Date Published
1994
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This article describes the efforts to address juvenile homicide in eight jurisdictions with the highest murder rates for children.
Abstract
The jurisdictions include Cook County (Ill.), Baltimore, Las Vegas, the Bronx, N.Y., Dallas, Los Angeles, Calhoun County (Fla.), and New Orleans. These jurisdictions had gun death rates of juveniles ranging from 2.6 to 11.3 per 100,000 people in 1991. Project Peace is a nonprofit organization that goes into two high schools and three elementary schools in Chicago to teach violence prevention, conflict resolution, and mediation. A Maryland juvenile judge says that tough laws have done little to deter criminals and that needed actions include more resources to help police and courts and more money for changing the environment that produces criminals. Nevada plans to open a 64-bed privately run facility to handle the most violent juvenile offenders. Big Brothers/Big Sisters is working with 125 other nonprofit agencies in New York City to pair troubled youths with volunteers. Dallas has imposed a curfew of 11 p.m. weeknights and 12 p.m. weekends on youths ages 17 and younger. Measures in other cities include a community program to help negotiate disputes among gangs and develop activities that present alternatives to violence, as well as midnight basketball sessions and other recreation programs. Cities across the Nation are passing curfews for minors, and Florida legislators tried to pass a statewide curfew. Table and photographs