There has been a dramatic increase in the number of young people who are victims or perpetrators of violent crime. Also, youth are involved in crime at younger and younger ages. Violence is now the second -most frequent cause of death for youth (after motor vehicle accidents), with firearms involved in one of every four deaths among people ages 15-19 (office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention,May 1996) Violent death among teens increased by 10% from 1985 to 1993, including a homicide rate which doubled (1996 Kids Count Data Book). "Youth violence," said Attorney General Janet Reno, "is the greatest single crime problem in America today.
The Presbyterian Peacemaking Fund was glad to provide a small grant to help OCC support Linda Blagburn as a consultant and field worker for a number of months, working to build and strengthen youth programs in Oakland to keep youth from being lured into violent gangs, selling drugs and guarding their turfs with guns.. --Bob Forsberg
ReplyDelete