Young people — particularly men under 18 — have long been targeted as the primary perpetrators of most of Canada's crimes. However, the Centre for Research on Youth at Risk, a non-profit organization, has compiled statistics that challenge this long-held belief.
Among their findings:
- Youth crime tends to be property crime. More than half of the young people arrested annually (53 percent) are picked up for property crimes, while only 20 percent are arrested for violent crimes, primarily assault. Adults are more likely to commit violent crimes than are youths.
- Most murders are committed by adults, not young people. Currently, the median age at which Canadians commit murder is 32. And this has been slowly increasing over the past 20 years.
- Young people are most likely to kill their peers, not the elderly. Although many Canadians believe the elderly are prime targets of youth crime, people over 65 are actually in the lowest risk group for homicide. Of those murders committed by people under 18, more than half (about 56 percent) tends to be committed against fellow youths. And killings are usually male against male.
- Youth crime is punished. Although many Canadians believe that most youthful offenders get off with a "slap on the wrist," the conviction rate on youth crime is actually a solid 67 percent nationwide. In New Brunswick, it's actually as high as 87 percent.
- Keeping kids indoors at night would have little effect on youth crime rates. Most youth crime occurs not at night, but between the hours of 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. when school is out and many kids are left "on their own" until their parents return from work. The best way to prevent youth crime may be to simply provide them with post-school activities that keep them "off the streets."
- Most young people are eager to positively contribute to their communities. Contrary to the "slacker" stereotype, most Canadian teens are eager to make positive contributions. Currently, six out of 10 young people volunteer with community organizations. In recent surveys, a full nine out of 10 teenagers say they would take part in local crime prevention programs if they knew what to do and who to contact.
Study Law Enforcement Foundations at Everest College in Scarborough
If you have an interest in youth crime prevention or other criminal justice-related career topics, consider the Law Enforcement Foundations program at Everest College of Business, Technology and Health Care in Scarborough, Ontario. This intense career education program can provide you with a marketable background in a variety of related topics, including:
- Sociology
- Psychology
- Contemporary Social Problems
- Human Behavior
- Introduction to Law Enforcement
- Criminal Code and Federal Statutes
- Investigation Techniques
- Criminology and the Criminal Justice System
- Issues in Diversity and First Nations People
- Conflict Resolution and Mediation
This program can be completed in just 11 months, after which you can take advantage of Everest's Career Services team who can help you prepare your resume, rehearse effective interviewing techniques and even help identify employment opportunities in your area.
For More Information
For more information about the Law Enforcement Foundations program at Everest College in Scarborough, or other career education programs throughout Ontario, contact Everest College today!
Financial assistance may be available for those who qualify.
