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.
Rev.
Carla Goddard is the Director of The Center of Divine Light. The
Center is a spiritual based wellness Center. We focus of all three
parts of the human – the mind, the body, and the spirit.
Rev.
Carla Goddard is an experienced and trained Metaphysician. She
received her Bachelor's Degree from the University of Sedona. She is
a member of the International Metaphysical Ministry and is ordained
as a Metaphysical Minister.
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