High Rate of Murder by Juveniles in the U.S.

States. Typically, the victims are other juveniles. Consequently, whereas the thoughts of young people in generations past centered on proms, college, or sports, today's youth are preoccupied with personal safety, particularly in high-crime, urban areas.

The threat of homicide is especially prevalent for young males. According to the U.S. Department of Justice and the Center for Disease Control, the leading cause of death in young males is homicides. The United States is the most violent country in the world. Compare death rates for males between the ages of 15-24 years of 2 homicides per 100,000 persons in France or 5 homicides per 100,000 persons in Scotland to 22 homicides per 100,000 persons in the United States (U.S. Congress, 1992, p. 5). African-American males in the same age bracket are at highest risk. The homicide rate for young African-American males is 85 homicides per 100,000 persons (U.S. Congress, 1992, p. 5).

The weapon of choice for youths involved in violence is firearms. In 1990, nearly three of every four juvenile murderers used guns in the commission of their crimes. In the past decade, the number of juveniles committing murder with guns increased by 79 percent. A survey of Seattle, Washington high school students found that 34 percent reported having easy access to handguns and almost 7 percent reported owning a gun (U.S. Congress, 1993, p. 7).

Virtually unlimited access to handguns

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tification. According to Grant et al. (1989), "The criminal enterprise murder suggests much more socialization in crime than the cause-specific murder, where there is some contextual rationalization for violent acts and behaving oneself" (p. 11). The characteristics of the crimes were also categorized according to FBI classifications. The confrontation between offender and victim was either classed as a blitz assault or a confidence assault. In a blitz assault the victim was taken by surprise. In a confidence assault a verbal exchange occurred between offender and victim. The majority of the murders committed by juveniles in the New York study were blitz assault (87 percent). A variety of weapons were used by the youths in this study. About 40 percent of the deaths occurred by gun shot, 25 percent, by stabbing, 7 percent by beating, 5 percent by strangulation, and the remainder by alternate methods. The majority (77 percent) of the youths were armed at the time of the attack. The majority of juvenile offenders were accompanied or abetted by another juvenile when the murders occurred. Almost two-thirds of juveniles in the New York sample had co-defendants. Grant et al. (1989) conclude, "An armed juvenile with a co-d
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