Possible Solutions to the Youth Violence Problem

Possible Solutions to the Youth Violence Problem

The birds are chirping, the sun is beaming down through the clouds, and you can hear the shrieks of excitement from the neighborhood park. Walking down the street, you envision raising your family on this picture-perfect street. As the vision becomes more and more detailed, however, the shot of a gun rings out from the distance. You duck behind a parked car, wondering where the bullet came from and why. Looking around, you are shocked to see a group of adolescents standing around another child, this one laying lifeless on the ground. As you rush over to help, the group scatters, and you notice all are wearing the same sign on their beanie hats. Looking down at the body, you see that there are no shoes to be had on his feet, although there are socks. When the police arrive, it is explained to you that this was an act of youth violence, and one that is common in that part of town. A child was shot to death for wearing a pair of shoes that a member of a street gang desired.

This probably does not sound like your street where you live. It does not, however, mean that there are not places out in the world where this is an everyday occurrence. Youth are subjected daily to pressures from their peers, and sometimes these peers might be ones with a stronger temper. Programs have been implemented to help youth who become part of gangs or other types of violence, but have they been enough? One needs to search deeper to determine the causes, but it is the solutions to the problem that is, in the end, of most importance.

On a local scene, the Corpus Christi Police Department has a gang prevention program. This program has a presentation in which members of the police...

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...this type of violence is growing, there is not as much information available as other forms of violence. Programs, such as the Big Brothers/Big Sisters programs, are in place all over the world. However, the United States youth violence is an issue with no solution. It has stemmed from social and class differences from the time of the first immigrants, and has continued into our modern day society, with money and sexuality as basis for violent acts. Problems not only occur in our neighborhoods, but in those of other countries as well. In order for the problem of youth crime and violence to diminish, it is up to the above-mentioned programs, from local, all the way to a global, international level, to inform citizens and parents ways to help with the problems of the next generation. How can a solution ever be found if ignorance is blamed on behalf of society?