National homicide rates have also been declining and are the lowest they have been in three decades. Adolescents experienced an overall increase in mortality in the second half of this century. This is due mainly to an increase in homicide, suicide, and accidents for that age group. Since the 1980s, adolescents, along with other groups, have shown a steady decline in homicide rates. The homicide rate for African-Americans is 13 times higher than it is for whites.
Men are more likely than women to be both victims and perpetrators of homicide.
Alcohol and drug use have also been shown to be associated with, but not the cause of, homicide. The department supports community, youth, and domestic violence prevention and reduction efforts to change the circumstances that can lead to homicides. The department is revising the Safe Michigan Plan, which addresses primary prevention for safe streets, schools, homes, and work sites. The department has developed model programs to assist communities in assessing and improving their youth violence prevention status. Additionally, the department has implemented a violence prevention media campaign.