More and more crime involves chronic violent offenders under 18 years of age. Only about 5 percent of all juvenile arrests are for violent crimes, but these arrests increased 50 percent from 1987 to 1991, twice the increase for persons 18 years of age or older. The increase in violent juvenile crime has been concentrated largely among young black males, and the victims are mostly other young black males. Between 1976 and 1991, the homicide victimization rate among white youth remained flat at about two to three murders per 100,000. By contrast, between 1976 and 1986, the homicide victimization rate among black youth fluctuated between seven and 10 murders per 100,000, then increased steadily to about 14 in 1988 and 20 in 1991.
Homicide is now far and away the leading cause of death among African-American teenagers.
Liquor also plays a large role in inner-city crime and other problems. A pattern of persistent alcohol abuse is about as likely to be associated with chronic predatory criminality as a pattern of persistent drug abuse. For the first time in almost a decade, nationwide arrest rates for violent crimes by juveniles fell slightly in 1995, according to preliminary data compiled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation from local police reports. The rate of homicides committed by youths age 10 to 17 rose from 5.4 per 100,000 in 1984 to 14.5 in 1993. In 1994 it dropped to 13.2 per 100,000 and in 1995 to 11.2 per 100,000.