The Rising Murder Rate Among Black Teens

A report by Northeastern University professor James Alan Fox states that the murder rate among African-American teenagers has increased since 2000 while murders committed by young whites have not grown or have declined. In 2000 539 white juveniles (ages 14 to 17) and 851 black juveniles committed murder. In 2007, murders were committed by 547 white juveniles and 1,142 black juveniles. Between 2000 and 2007 the number of young black persons in Houston suspected in murders increased 139%, placing Houston at the top of a list of 28 cities. For more on this report, click here and here.