A study released on Monday by the Indiana Youth Institute (IYI) showed a dramatic increase in homicides among children and teenagers across the state of Indiana. Many of those deaths happened in Marion County.
According to the study, from 2012 to 2013, the number of homicide victims among children and teens to 19 years old doubled from 35 to 65 homicides. That’s an increase of 85 percent. The last time IYI saw a significant rise in crime and violence among youth was in the early 1990s.
73.1 percent of homicides occurred in Indiana’s three most populous counties: Marion, Lake and Allen. Homicides also account for 61 percent of deaths for black teenagers and young adults.
The number of homicide victims among children and teens to 19 years old doubled from 35 to 65 homicides. Photo: Crime file news“Violence does touch every group, but it touches the African American community disproportionately,” said Julie Whitman from IYI. “It’s the leading cause of death for black males ages 15-24,” as reported by Fox 59.
From the total number of homicide victims of ages 15 to 19 in 2013, 39 were African American males, which marks a big difference compared to the only six white male homicide victims. In Fort Wayne, all of the homicide victims in 2013 ages 15-19 were African American.
Mayor Joe Hogsett’s administration is focused on fixing the main factors that can lead to violence. The Mayor’s office has also initiated a summer jobs program for this year and is trying to increase youth programs and activities.
Source: Fox59