An Effective Response to Teenage Crime is Possible - and Cities Are Showing the Way.

Author: Levin, J.
Publication: Law-Related Educational
Topics: Age Group Crime Homicide Law Enforcement Legislation and Policy Prevention Students
Keywords: Firearms Schools Weapons Youth Violence homicide prevention
Bibliographic information +

Against the backdrop of a violent shooting on April 20, 1999 at Columbine High School, in which 12 students and a teacher were killed and 24 others injured, the author reviews trends in homicide rates in the U.S., concluding that the overall rates have actually been falling, as a result of interventions put in place by several cities. These interventions include a zero-tolerance policies regarding students who carry firearms to school, the institution of conflict resolution programs in schools and provision of adult supervision, guidance and control through athletics and other extracurricular programs. In Boston in particular, there has been a proliferation of community-based programs targeting at-risk teenagers, resulting in a significant drop in the number of teenagers arrested on murder charges, from 34 in 1990 to 3 in 1998. The author recommends the replication of similar programs in other cities with high crime rates, with additional support given to cities lacking the resources to institute such programs