Texas Teens Cover - Senate
Texas Teens Cover - Senate
Texas Teens Cover - Senate
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CHAPTER 8 JANUARY 2001<br />
This peak victimization time period is also the time period of peak criminal<br />
activity for juveniles. As in victimization, serious, violent criminal activity is<br />
more pronounced on school days than non-school days. Robbery by juveniles<br />
tends to peak both after school and later in the evening around 9 p.m. 70<br />
<strong>Texas</strong> recognizes the importance of caring for children after school. The <strong>Texas</strong><br />
After-School Initiative, administered through the <strong>Texas</strong> Education Agency (TEA)<br />
and funded at $ 25 million for the 2000-2001 biennium, targets money to certain<br />
high juvenile crime zip codes for programs serving students at risk of academic<br />
failure or criminal activity (Rider 64 of TEA budget). Additionally, corporations<br />
may qualify for a tax credit for certain contributions to before-and-after-schoolcare<br />
programs and summer programs for children ages 5 through 13 (S.B. 441,<br />
76 th Legislature).<br />
Policy Implication: Statistics show that the peak time of teen criminal victimization is<br />
during the several hours following school hours. Programs aimed at deterring juvenile<br />
crime and juvenile victimization should focus on being active in the hours directly<br />
following the school day.<br />
Victims of Murder<br />
How many youths are murdered and who are they? Like other trends in juvenile<br />
crime, the number of juvenile murder victims peaked in the mid-1990s and<br />
continues to decrease. For the first time since 1980, the number of teenage<br />
murders nationwide (2,040 in 1998) is less than the number of teenage murders<br />
in 1980 (2,148). 71 Figure 8.11<br />
2000<br />
1800<br />
1600<br />
1400<br />
1200<br />
1000<br />
800<br />
600<br />
400<br />
200<br />
0<br />
Juvenile Homicide Victims by Age<br />
Ages 12 - 17<br />
Ages 0 - 5<br />
Ages 6 - 11<br />
1997<br />
1995<br />
1993<br />
1991<br />
1989<br />
1987<br />
1985<br />
1983<br />
1981<br />
Source: FBI, analysis of reports issued in 1980, and 1990 to 1998<br />
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SENATE RESEARCH CENTER Safe Passages: <strong>Texas</strong> <strong>Teens</strong> on the Road to Adulthood- 152
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