African American youths have been hit hardest of late. Violent crime arrests for black youths consistently outpaced the growth among white youths in a recent study conducted by the Chapin Hall policy research center at the University of Chicago. Continue reading Hartford Courant – Alarms Raised on Youth Crimes

According to a study by the Urban Institute, affiliated with the U.S. Justice Department, teens whose cases are heard in teen courts have a 6 percent recidivism rate, compared to an 18 percent rate for those whose cases are heard through a traditional juvenile court. Taxpayers save $9,200 for each case diverted to teen courts, the study shows. Continue reading Seattle Times – Teen Courts put Youngsters at the Mercy of Their Peers

Is that a storm cloud on the horizon or just morning fog? Where violent crime is concerned, we can’t tell yet, says a study released by the University of Chicago’s Chapin Hall Center for Children. It notes a slight increase in crime between 2004 and 2005 but cautions against overreaction. The report directly contradicts concerns recently expressed by many of the nation’s police chiefs. Some cities, such as Orlando, Fla., and Trenton, N.J., recently have hit all-time highs in homicides Continue reading News & Record—Violent Crime Trends Appear Muddled

We had 10 years of good news, said Jeffrey Butts, a co-author of the report. The period of decline is over. That is concerning. At the same time, Butts said, it is too soon to tell if this spike is the beginning of another crime wave. Locally, it is also not clear if juvenile crime is on the rise. Several law enforcement agencies reported a slight rise, while others reported a continued downward trend. Continue reading Oakland Tribune Editorial