Chicago Acts Of Violence Essay

The history of this problem primarily focuses on the late 1980s and early 1990s, when the rate of youth homicides increased dramatically for many cities. Specifically in

According to the Toronto police, an Anti-Violence Intervention Strategy was a necessary investment in wake of increasing gun violence among poor (primarily black) youth in the city of Toronto, which peaked to its ultimate high in the year 2005 known as the ‘year of the gun’. A media spectacle of the Toronto’s gang violence primarily involving young black men from poor inner suburban

Chicago is facing a serious problem. Over this year 's Fourth of July Weekend, eighty four people were shot resulting in fourteen deaths. After this violent weekend, Mayor Rahm Emmanuel nearly called for total martial law, calling upon United States Military 's support to help protect Chicago 's citizens and patrol Chicacgo 's streets. So far in 2015, over 2,300 people have been shot in the city of Chicago, and it is only a matter of days until the death toll surpasses four hundred on the year. There are a number of factors that contribute to this inflated level of violent crime. Some would point to loose gun restrictions, others to gang fragmentation. I believe the most influential factor leading to these high rates of crime in certain

Part biography, part social view, a very thoughtful look into inner-city violence and the rules surrounding it. This book describes how his personal history with violence influenced his work with youth and the programs that he has started to support youth. Geoffrey Canada describes the progression of violence that had happened in his lifetime. He also points out that there is a disturbing difference between what the streets were like in the 1960s compared to those of today.

Chicago, a city well known for its bold architecture, amazing food and fascinating museums. A paradise for people to expand upon their brilliant ideas such as Oprah Winfrey and the President of the United States. With a population of 2,722,389 (according to the United States Census Bureau) Chicago takes home the third largest city in the nation . A better place than this would sound unrealistic but to every beautiful story there's an ugly secret. The city has been infected with a large outbreak killing thousands of its citizens. However it is not a disease nor sickness we identify with such as cancer but a large increase in the amount killings due to gun violence. This negative contribution to the city primarily occurs in the South and West

Often communities are separated by socioeconomic status. Some of the problems that can lead to poor economic status include increased levels of unemployment, poverty, decreased levels of economic opportunities and a lack of education (Browne, Salomon, Bassuk, 1999). Browne, Salomon, and Bassuk (1999) concluded that individuals residing in households earning less than $10,000 a year had a greater possibility of experiencing violence, than individuals living in wealthier households. Furthermore, in 2005 “Health Zone 1 had the highest poverty level with 26% of the population living below poverty” (Duval County Health Department, 2008, pg. 4). There is an obvious correlation between violence and economic deprivation. Now that violence has been recognized as a progressive problem, let’s look at what interventions can be implemented to decrease these abnormally high violence rates in Health Zone 1.

The Chicago Police Department has gained national recognition since the release of the video footage that revealed the brutal shooting of 17-year old Laquan McDonald. Since the release of the footage, Mayor Rahm Emanuel has faced major backlash caused by his halfhearted attempt to seek justice for McDonald. Recently, Emanuel chose Eddie Johnson to serve as the interim police superintendent. In 2016, Chicago has seen its third highest level of violence since 2004. In the first four months of 2016, the number of shooting increased to 677 from 359 shootings reported only one year earlier. By the end of 2016, Chicago is estimated to have more than 500 killings in the year (Berman).

Chicago is one of the most racially segregated cities in America with the north side being predominantly occupied by whites, the south and west sides being occupied by blacks and the southwest and northwest being dominated by Hispanics. Chicago’s minority dominated neighborhoods has been plagued with increasing homicide rates, violent crimes, and a growing drug and gang culture. The city has been considered one of America’s most gang infested cities which means that murders and shootings are a common occurrence in everyday life for the residents. The spiraling rise in violence means a greater concentration of police and law enforcement which instills fear and paranoia of the police and ultimately the government into the community. This creates an especially deleterious environment for kids growing up in these neighborhoods who are constantly drawn in to the allure of gangs, drugs, and violence.

Third question: do you think that what is happening in Chicago is because no one really knows what’s causing all of the excessive level of violence? Fourth question: do you believe things or the cause will be found out, and the area will be cleaned up and crime reduced or will it just be taken over section by sections still good citizens will have to leave the area?

Attorney’s Office and District Attorney’s Office, actively work to stop or curtail criminal acts as they are occurring (BPD, n.d.). One of the intervention tactics discussed involves working in areas of high gang violence to ease tensions and directly address ongoing disputes, in an ultimate attempt to curb the violence associated with gang disputes (BPD, n.d.). This is an example of an intervention method because it attempts to tackle a problem that already exists by directly injecting law enforcement into the situation. Another innovative intervention approach used by the Boston Police focuses on a joint effort between the police and the probation department, wherein the two groups work together to encourage at-risk youth to stay in and maintain curfews, while also violating more dangerous offenders as soon as they break the rules (BPD, n.d.). A final example of an intervention technique is the unique Youth Service Providers Network, which allows police to refer at-risk children for services like counseling, emergency housing and tutoring (BPD, n.d.) In doing so, Boston police can intervene in a child’s life without having to arrest the youth. As Siegel and Welsh (2012) point out, youth crime rates often stem from a lack of other important supportive services, so this type of program is an incredibly powerful response to intervene in the lives of children who might otherwise simply be arrested and funneled into the justice

The exposure to risk factors increased the development of violence for young people. Risk facts increases the probability that a person will suffer harm (General 2001). Risk factors increase the likelihood of children exposure to violence. Risk factors vary on many levels. They are individual, family, social and community risk factors. Each work together to increase the exposure to violence.

32). Other factors include psychological and behavioral characteristics like hyperactivity, impulsiveness, risk taking behavior, poor concentration and low IQ. Relationship issues with family members such as violence in the home, low family cohesion, low socioeconomic status and even single parent households can all put youths at greater risk for violence. People, especially youths, are often influenced by their peers. If a person associates themselves with the wrong crowd or becomes part of a gang, they are likely to engage in violent behavior. Urban areas tend to have higher crime rates in general, so it’s no surprise that youth violence would be higher in these neighborhoods. Another factor that can lead to youth violence within a given community is the level of policing that takes place. A lack of police presence or enforcement of the law can negatively impact deterrence and instead provide opportunity for deviant behavior. One last risk factor I will mention is the culture of violence that exists with technology. Exposure to violence on television, on the internet, in movies and in video games can increase the risk of youth violence. This is a controversial subject, and I personally don’t like it when people use it as an excuse for their behavior. However, studies have shown that violence in countries without television increased after television had been introduced into their culture (WHO, 2015 p.38).

While talking to my students about violence in the inner city, I had one request, I wanted to know if they'd experienced violence, and if so, where was it? I was shocked to learn that many of my students have experienced violence very close tho their own homes. One of the most powerful ways for our youth to advocate is through their own stories. For my third piece of evidence, I have included memoirs from my students about the first time they witnessed violence in their communities. Students demonstrate through the memoirs that they understand that the senseless violence happening in their communities is not normal. They also showcase that they have opinions about it.

Statistics show that lower class youth commit four times more violent crimes as their counterparts of middle class youth. Also, studies show that 83% of gun related murders among teenagers occur in populations with poverty levels of twenty percent or higher. This proves that the more in income inequality there is a big effect on increasing crime rates. With all this being said there is a direct link between poverty and crime rates. In these impoverished communities these youth does not have the resources available to not only help them to overcome these statistics, but they do not have the tools to reach beyond the harsh truths of the world around them. The cycle is destined to repeat itself without the help from outside sources. Build a Center, Heal a Community, can provide the tools to build a bridge between these at risk youth and a more diverse world that they are capable of being a part

We modeled our approach on “Cure Violence,” a community outreach program in Chicago founded by the epidemiologist Gary Slutkin. The Chicago