Deconstructing Chicago Youth Violence

Chicago Public Radio

Headlines blare whenever a young person is killed in Chicago – especially if it’s at the hands of another youth. Community activists, educators and
politicians alike are wrestling with how to stop these murders and some are calling it a crisis. But that kind of hyperbole may be misplaced. The youth
violence the city is experiencing today is not as extreme as past decades.

Let’s be clear: Too many young people are dying violently in Chicago. Cause for concern is justified. But University of Chicago professor Dexter Voisin says much of what he hears about youth violence these days makes it sound as if the violence is at an apex.
VOISIN: Youth violence has definitely been on the decline. In 2006 we saw our lowest decrease in violence in Chicago – almost down by 40 percent. That’s a 40 percent decrease over the last 10 years.

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