Quick Statistics Concerning Youth

Family stability continues to erode.

• Over 3,000 children and teens a day see their parents' marriage end in divorce.

• A growing number of fathers forsake their family. Tonight, 40% of the kids in America will go to bed in a home without a father.

• Too many kids turn to television, music and their peers for guidance and direction.
• Commonly held standards of right and wrong are being shattered by a new wave of moral relativism. 66% of the population believes that absolute truth cannot be known.
• Today's teens face pressures, challenges and confusing choices unknown to previous generations.
• More and more children and teens are sexually active. By the time they graduate from high school, 7 out of 10 girls and 8 out of 10 boys will have had sexual intercourse.
• The physical and spiritual consequences of teen sexual activity are severe. More than one million teenage girls in the United States become pregnant every year. Over 2.5 million new adolescent cases of sexually transmitted diseases occur every year.
• Rates of substance abuse among children and teens are skyrocketing. Not surprisingly, 38% of all eighth graders have experimented with illicit drugs. Over 80% of today's graduating seniors will have used alcohol, 42% will have used marijuana, and 52% will have used illicit drugs.
• Teen violence is on the rise. Between 1988 and 1992, the arrests of juvenile homicide offenders climbed 93%. An estimated 270,000 guns are carried to school each day.
• The pain of growing up in today's world has left many kids hopeless. Suicide rates among American high school students have quadrupled in the last four decades. Sadly, 10% of adolescent boys and 18% of adolescent girls have made some attempt to take their own life.

From "Center for Parent/Youth Understanding" http://www.cpyu.org/teenager.html

POP CULTURE AFFECTS TEENS' VIEWS

• A new study says teens who spend most of their free time ingesting movies, tv, and music see pop culture as a valid form of creativity. The study found 87% of teens rated "directing a movie," "being a rocket scientist," and "being a good teacher" as equally creative pursuits. Teens immersed in pop culture gain skills in problem solving, engaging in community service, and enhancing their schoolwork, the study says. (USA Today, Nov. 2)
• 
  
  

Movies and Teens

In 1984 and 1996, what percentage of movies carried what rating?

How many movies do teens watch per year on which formats?

• Movie theater-11
• Cable-62
• Broadcast tv-30
• vcr-45
• cd-rom or digital disk-2

(USA Today, April 18; Youthviews, March 1997) http://www.gospelcom.net/ys/free/stats/ja97.html

Lightfingered Tykes

Although kids aged 13 to 17 comprise only 7% of the American population, they make up 31% of the shoplifting population. Why do they bag stuff they don't own?

• Can't afford cool stuff
• Acting on impulse
• Thrill seeking
• Too impatient to wait in line
• Embarrassed to be seen buying the item
• Dares or peer pressure
• Can't legally buy item (i.e., alcohol)

(Chicago Tribune, May 19) http://www.gospelcom.net/ys/free/stats/so97.html

International Church Attendance

About 10% of U.S. kids attend a religious service three or more times a week. How many 7- to 12-year-old kids in major industrial countries go to religious services at least once a week?

• U.S.--55%
• U.K.--14%
• Germany--11%
• France--8%
• China--4%
• Japan--2%

(USA Today, Aug. 22) http://www.gospelcom.net/ys/free/stats/nd97.html

Bible Readers Happier

Nearly 90% of frequent Bible readers say they feel at peace most of the time, compared with 58% of people who read the Bible less than once a month, according to Tyndale House Publishers. Other findings:

• 81% feel content most of or all of the time, compared to 67% of infrequent readers.
• 69% are extremely satisfied with their lives, compared to 57% of infrequent readers.
• 15% worry about being accepted, compared to 28% of infrequent readers.
• 12% worry about death, compared to 22% of infrequent readers.
• 64% feel joy all of or most of the time, nearly double that of infrequent readers.
• 92% feel they have a clear purpose and meaning in life, compared to 69% of infrequent Bible readers.

(EP News, Aug. 15) http://www.gospelcom.net/ys/free/stats/nd97.html

Cool Labels

What do 13- to 17-year-olds say are the coolest, and least cool, designer labels at school this year?

Cool:

• Nike--73%
• Tommy Hilfiger--67%
• Calvin Klein--59%
• Oakley--50%
• Old Navy--48%

Uncool:

• Keds--63%
• Lee--60%
• Airwalk--50%
• Guess--49%
• Converse--48%

(USA Today, Sept. 23) http://www.gospelcom.net/ys/free/stats/jf98.html

Fave Classes

Among 10- to 17-year-olds, what are their favorite classes?

• Math--28%
• Science--21%
• Art--16%
• History/social studies--15%
• English--13%
• Foreign language--5%

(USA Today, Oct. 20) http://www.gospelcom.net/ys/free/stats/jf98.html

Hell: A Little Quiz

What do adults believe about hell?

• 52% believe hell exists.
• 48% believe hell is a real place where people suffer eternal fiery torment.
• 46% believe hell isn't a real place but is an anguished state of existence.
• 27% believe hell might exist but aren't sure.

(USA Today, Oct. 31-Nov. 2) http://www.gospelcom.net/ys/free/stats/jf98.html

Who Says They're Christians?

Here's the male/female breakdown adults over the years who've considered themselves born again (those who believe they'll go to heaven because they've confessed their sins and accepted Jesus Christ as their savior):

(USA Today, Dec. 5-7) http://www.gospelcom.net/ys/free/stats/ma98.html

Marijuana Acceptance Rising

A new survey shows the number of college freshmen who support the legalization of marijuana has doubled since 1989. But the UCLA study for the Washington-based American Council on Education also shows college freshmen are more apt to favor restricting abortion rights and are less accepting of gay relationships than students in recent years. Support for marijuana legalization has grown among college freshmen from 16.7 percent in 1989 to 35.2 percent in 1997. Marijuana use among high school seniors also is rising.

(The Ivy Jungle Network, Feb. 1998) http://www.gospelcom.net/ys/free/stats/mj98.html

Come 'n Get Yer Free Condoms!

A third of teens say they can get free condoms on a regular basis. Here are the percentages these locales are mentioned as the place to go:

• Clinic--40%
• Friend--16%
• School--14%
• Store giveaway--6%
• Doctor--6%
• Parent/relative--4%
• Concerts--2%
• Partner--1%
• Other--20%

(USA Today, March 12) http://www.gospelcom.net/ys/free/stats/mj98.html

Who's Having Abortions?

• Whites--59.5%
• Under 25 years old--52.6%
• Unmarried--79.7%

(USA Today, Jan. 22) http://www.gospelcom.net/ys/free/stats/mj98.html

Liar, Liar!

More than 93% of Americans admit that they lie "regularly and habitually" at work.

(Spin, March 1998) http://www.gospelcom.net/ys/free/stats/mj98.html

Teen Suicide by Race

Suicides among black teens have risen sharply since the '80s (114%), overall. In the south, the suicide rates among teen blacks have increased 214%.

While white teens are more likely to commit suicide, black suicides are increasing at a faster pace.

The rise of black suicides, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, may be connected with the growth of the black middle class.

Less than five in every 100,000 black teens take their own lives, compared to more than 6% of white teens

In 1980, the suicide rate for young whites was 157% greater than for blacks; today that difference is only 45%.

3,030 black teens have committed suicide since 1980, nearly all used firearms.

(San Antonio Express-News, March 20)

http://www.gospelcom.net/ys/free/stats/ja98.html

Kiddie Crime Down

The FBI reports that teen crime is down:

Year Arrests for Violent Crime

• 1992 - 104,137
• 1993 - 119,678
• 1994 - 125,085
• 1995 - 106,190
• 1996 - 102,231

(USA Today, April 1) http://www.gospelcom.net/ys/free/stats/ja98.html

Kids at Risk

6,093 students were expelled last year for taking firearms to public schools.

• 9% of these expulsions were in elementary schools.
• 63% of kids aged 7 to 10 are worried that they may die young.

(Time, May 18) http://www.gospelcom.net/ys/free/stats/ja98.html

Risky Business

400 kids (15 to 19) were surveyed regarding if they ever were with a teen driver who-

• packed in too many passengers for available seat belts--57%
• drove 20 m.p.h. over the speed limit--53%
• jerked steering wheel to make car swerve--35%
• had passengers steer--21%
• tailgated, cut off, or tried to bump another car--14%
• let passengers ride on outside of car--12%

However, over the last decade, the number of youths killed in bicycle and car accidents has fallen 26% due to the use of bike helmets and seat belts.

(Reader's Digest, June 1998; Time, May 18) http://www.gospelcom.net/ys/free/stats/so98.html

180,000 Beer Ads Before 21

The typical American child will be exposed to up to 180,000 beer ads before reaching legal drinking age.

Only 23% of parents strictly prohibit their kids from drinking before they're legal.

Only 40 to 60% of high schoolers regularly use alcohol.

(Chicago Tribune, June 11) http://www.gospelcom.net/ys/free/stats/so98.html

Christianity Still Vital to Americans

Over 80% of Americans claim to be Christians, according the Barna Research group, and faith is important to even the "least religious" segments of our population:

• Gen-Xers (81%),
• single adults (79%),
• men (77%),
• northeasterners (77%),
• and liberals (74%).
• 
  
  

The Barna survey found that those most open to exploring faiths other than Christianity are young adults. Among twentysomethings, one in six claims atheism or agnosticism and more than one in five chooses faiths outside Christianity.

Because Americans are hungry for spirituality, Bible sales are still booming. Tyndale House alone had a 41% jump in Bible sales in the past year alone. Some Bible stats:

The King James Version has been usurped in popularity by the New International Version.

• 38% of people say they read the Bible outside of church for almost an hour per week.
• 91% of households own at least one Bible.
• 80% believe the Bible is the most influential book in human history.
• 58% believe the Bible is totally accurate.
• 22% have read the entire Bible.

But misunderstandings still abound:

• 80% believe the Bible reads, "God helps those who help themselves."
• 42% know Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount.
• 12% think Noah's wife was Joan of Arc.

(USA Today; Barna Research Group, May 27) http://www.gospelcom.net/ys/free/stats/so98.html

Sex and Adults

71% of adults had one sexual partner over the last year, and 12% have had none. What are the number of sexual partners adults have had since they were 18?

Men Women Sexual Partners

3% 3% 0

20 31 1

21 36 2 to 4

23 20 5 to 10

16 6 10 to 20

17 3 21 or more

(USA Today, June 8) http://www.gospelcom.net/ys/free/stats/so98.html

Kids on Homosexuality

• 82% say gays can and should be hired for any occupation.
• 80% think same-sex partners should receive the same benefits (such as health insurance) from employers as married people.
• 73% say homosexuals should be allowed in the military.
• 64% think gays should be allowed to adopt kids.
• 61% agree that homosexuals should be able to get married.
• 69% know that intimate contact with a homosexual person can cause aids.
• 81% believe homosexuals have made a life choice to become gay.

(Youthviews, June 1998) http://www.gospelcom.net/ys/free/stats/so98.html

Reading, Writing and Metal Detecting?

About 44% of adults say they're very concerned about safety in public schools. How do they feel about metal detectors there?

• Needed--70%
• Not needed--23%
• Unsure--7%

(USA Today, Sept. 8) http://www.gospelcom.net/ys/free/stats/nd98.html

Will Price Hike Discourage Teen Smokers?

The percentage of people, by age group, who believe raising the cost of cigarettes by $1 per pack will cut the amount of smoking by minors:

• 18-34--33%
• 35-44--27%
• 45-54--41%
• 55-64--29%
• 65-plus--30%

(USA Today, Aug. 9) http://www.gospelcom.net/ys/free/stats/nd98.html

Teens Ace Pop Culture, Fail at Past Culture

When American teens got a quiz that mixed questions about pop culture and constitutional issues, guess which they knew most about?

• Less than 2% of teens recognized James Madison as the father of the Constitution, while 58% know Bill Gates as the father of Microsoft.
• Nearly 95% know Will Smith played the "Fresh Prince of Bel Air," but only 2% know William Rehnquist as Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.
• More than 75% know Beverly Hills' zip code is 90210, but only 25% know the Constitution was written in Philadelphia.
• 41% can name the three branches of the government, while 59% can name the Three Stooges.
• 74% know Bart Simpson lives in Springfield, but only 12% know Abraham Lincoln was from Springfield, Ill.
• 74% know Al Gore is vice president, but 90% knew Leo DiCaprio was the star of Titanic.

(The Joplin Globe, Sept. 3) http://www.gospelcom.net/ys/free/stats/nd98.html

Youths Don't Fit Stereotypes

A New York Times/CBS News poll found that teens don't necessarily fit stereotypes:

• 94% believe in God.
• 51% say they get along with their parents very well.
• Half say the government can be trusted to do right all or most of the time (only 26% of adults agree).

(Presbyterian Outlook, July 13) http://www.gospelcom.net/ys/free/stats/nd98.html

Teen Risky Behaviors Surveyed by Races

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released a survey on teens and at-risk behavior. The findings:

• Anglo students are more likely than blacks or Hispanics to use tobacco or drugs; blacks and Hispanics are more likely to get hurt and inflict pain by carrying weapons or fighting.
• One in five teens carries a weapon or drives after drinking.
• One in ten kids has attempted suicide.
• 23% of Hispanics arm themselves with a gun, knife or club, compared with 22% of blacks, and 17% of anglos.
• 43% of blacks fought in the previous year, compared with 41% of Hispanics, and 34% of anglos.
• 19% of whites mix drinking and driving; 18% of Hispanics, and 9% of blacks.
• 38% of Anglos had consumed five or more glasses of alcohol within the 30 days before the survey, compared to 35% of Hispanics and 16% of blacks.
• 20% of Anglos smoke frequently; Hispanics reach half that amount, and 7% of blacks smoke frequently.
• Hispanics used nine times as much cocaine--totalling 6%--as blacks, while Anglos hit 3%. Hispanics also used more steroids or injected drugs.

(San Antonio Express-News, Aug. 14) http://www.gospelcom.net/ys/free/stats/nd98.html

Teen Drinking and Parental Dilemmas

Nearly 30% of parents with kids aged 13 to 20 have learned their children drank or used drugs. How do parents cope with their kids drinking?

• 5%--don't know
• 6%--let them taste, believing they won't like it; let them drink at home under supervision
• 23%--forbid underage drinking
• 60%--don't approve, but tell them to call for a ride if drunk

(USA Today, Oct. 7) http://www.gospelcom.net/ys/free/stats/jf99.html

Okay To Be Gay?

A recent Time/CNN poll measured the difference in attitudes about gays and lesbians between 1978 and 1998, as well as some other questions about homosexuality.

The findings: 1978 1998

• Acceptable for others, but not self 35% 58%
• Acceptable for others and self 6% 12%
• Not acceptable at all 59% 33%
• Gay relations are morally wrong 53% 48%
• Gay relations isn't a moral issue 38% 45%

In other news:

In 1994,

• 32% of people had a close friend or family member who was gay, compared to 41% today.
• 33% believe homosexuality is something a person is born with.
• 40% believe homosexuality is nurture-based.
• 11% believe both birth and environmental factors determine homosexuality.
• Half of Americans believe gays and lesbians can change their sexual orientation if they choose, compared to 36% who believe they can't.
• Just over half believe gays have the right to serve in the military, compared to 39% who don't.
• Half favor letting gays and lesbians teach in schools; 42% oppose this.

(Time, Oct. 26) http://www.gospelcom.net/ys/free/stats/jf99.html

Pop Culture Affects Teens' Views

A new study says teens who spend most of their free time ingesting movies, TV, and music see pop culture as a valid form of creativity. The study found 87% of teens rated "directing a movie," "being a rocket scientist," and "being a good teacher" as equally creative pursuits. Teens immersed in pop culture gain skills in problem solving, engaging in community service, and enhancing their schoolwork, the study says. (USA Today, Nov. 2)

http://www.gospelcom.net/ys/free/stats/jf99.html

More On Teen Drinking

The American Academy of Pediatrics recently released a study on 16- to 19-year-olds and drinking. Some findings:

• 80% think it's okay to drink as long as there's a designated driver. But nearly half think it's okay for the designated driver to drink.
• More than half surveyed drank during the preceding month.
• Half of teens drink two to five beers per sitting.
• Three in 10 consume at least six.
• The average "start drinking" age is 14.
• Another study shows that high schoolers who watch TV are more likely to start drinking than other teens. The Stanford University report adds that kids who rent movies are less likely to drink. Experts say the findings aren't surprising since alcohol is the most common beverage shown on TV.
• "The great majority of drinking on television is by the most attractive and most influential people," says the study's lead author, "and it is often associated with sexually suggestive content."

(San Diego Union-Tribune, Nov. 3; San Antonio Express-News, Sept. 30) http://www.gospelcom.net/ys/free/stats/jf99.html

MORE ON TEEN DRINKING

The American Academy of Pediatrics recently released a study on 16- to

19-year-olds and drinking. Some findings:

• 80% think it's okay to drink as long as there's a designated driver. But nearly half think it's okay for the designated driver to drink.
• More than half surveyed drank during the preceding month.
• Half of teens drink two to five beers per sitting.
• Three in 10 consume at least six.• The average "start drinking" age is 14.
• Another study shows that high schoolers who watch tv are more likely to start drinking than other teens. The Stanford University report adds that kids who rent movies are less likely to drink. Experts say the findings aren't surprising since alcohol is the most common beverage shown on tv. "The great majority of drinking on television is by the most attractive and most influential people," says the study's lead author, "and it is often associated with sexually suggestive content."

(San Diego Union-Tribune, Nov. 3; San Antonio Express-News, Sept. 30)

Teenagers are the age group most victimized by crime in the U.S.. Although the 12-19 age group constitutes only 14% of the population age 12 and older, teens are victims in three of ten crimes ad one of four thefts. Teenagers are the least likely group to report crime.

(Bureau of Justice Statistics, Office of Justice Programs, US Department of Justice, 1991).

Between 1986 & 1991, the juvinile violent crime arrest for youths ages 10 - 17 increased by 48%. In 1991, 130,000 youth arrests were made for rape, robbery, homicide or aggrivated assault -- 42,000 more than in 1996.

(Kids Count Data Book, 1993)

Black Males ages 16 - 19 face an enormous risk of death by murder (54.3 per 100,000 versus 12.6 Black females the same age). White males 16 - 19 face an 8.7 per 100,000 risk of murder; White females 16 - 19 face a 3.4 per 100,000 risk.

(Bureau of Justice Statistics, 1991)

Women ages 12 - 24 were nearly three times more likely to be raped than women in older age groups

(Bureau of Justice Statistics, 1990)

The firearm death rate among teenagers 15 - 19 increased 77% from 1985 - 1990, reaching the highest level to date. The firearm homicide rate for Black teenage males nerely tripled.

(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Public Health Service, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 1993)

While Alcohol and other drug use declined among high school seniors in 1992, 8th graders reported increased drug use. In addition, 8th graders used Alcohol at nearly the same rates as 1991 -- nearly 70% have used alcohol at least once.

(University of Michigan's 1992 High School Senior Survey on Drug Abuse)

Five percent of American teens have no productive role in society -- they aren't in school and don't have jobs, either in or outside of the home.

(Kids Count Data Book, 1993)

The above can be found - http://www.stv.net/Contents/Stats/03.html

USA Schools have been given 80 million dollars for security upgrades due to the increase in violence.

(CNN TV - October 15, 1998)

Over Half of the 1,234 Public Elementary & Secondary Schools randomly selected had Expenienced At Least One crime incident in the 1997-98 School Year.

(National Center For Education Statistics, 1998)

Students aged 12-18yrs were victims of about 255,000 incidents of non-fatal serious violent crime at school and about 671,000 incidents away from school.

(National Criminal Justice Reference Services (NCJRS), Indicators of school crime and safety, 1998) http://www.ncjrs.aspensys.com

125,000 secondary school teachers are threatened with physical harm and about 5,200 are physically attacked every month, According to the National Association of School Psychologists.

(Madison Board of Cooperative Educational Services, 1998, Violence in our Schools Professional Development Center)

5% of the incidents involved serious crimes including murder, suicide, rape or other sexual vattery, assault with a weapon & robbery.

(National Center For Education Statistics, 1998)

10% of the schools had experienced 1 or More Serious Violent Crimes.

(National Center For Education Statistics, 1998)

21% of these crimes occurred at High School, 19% at Middle School & 4% at Elementary Schools.

(National Center For Education Statistics, 1998)

Over the past six years, 226 children have died Violently on School grounds, going to or from school, or attending school events.

(National Center For Education Statistics, 1998)

Last year, 3024 Children Under Age 18 Died from Gunfire.

(Justice Policy Institute, 1998)

Adults are responsible for 90% of Shooting Deaths of Children Under 12 And 75% Of Shooting Deaths of those between 12 & 17.

(Justice Policy Institute, 1998)

According to the National School Board Association, there are nearly 135,000 guns brought to school every day.

(Robert Maginnis (1995), Violence in the School House: A 10yr update. National School Safety Center)

One in eight students has feared being attacked going to or from school; in central cities, one of five students has feared such an attack.

(Bureau of Justice Statistics, 1992)

One student in fifteen has reported avoiding places at school out of fear of an attack. Younger students (age 12 or so) were twice as likely as students age 18 to avoid places at school because they feared attack.

(Bureau of Justice Statistics, 1992)

Fifteen percent of students reported gangs present at their school. Of these students, 35% said they feared attack at school, and 24% feared going to and from school. Where gangs were reported present, 13% of the students avoided areas inside the school for fear of an attack.

(Bureau of Justice Statistics, 1992)

Over half of all violent crimes against teenagers 12 - 19 occur in school buildings, on school property, or on the street. Street crimes are three times more likely than crimes in school buildings to have been committed by an offender with a weapon.

(Bureau of Justice Statistics, 1991)

Gang or drug disputes were the leading cause of school gun violence (18%). Longstanding arguements (15%), romantic disagreements (12%), fights over posessions (10%) and accidents (13%) were also common.

(Center to Prevent Handgun Violence, 1990)

The above can be found - http://www.stv.net/Contents/Stats/04.html

In 1992, an estimated 1,261 children were known to have died from child abuse. Those who survive often suffer long lasting pain and even disability from serios injuries and emotional trauma.

(National Committee for Prevention of Child Abuse, 1993)

In 1992, and estimated 2.9 million suspected child abuse incidents were reported in the United States.

(National Committee for Prevention of Child Abuse, 1993)

Being abused or neglected as a child increases the likelyhood of arrest as a juvinile by 53%, as an adult by 38%, and for violent crime by 38%.

(National Institute of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, 1992) http://www.stv.net/Contents/Stats/05.html

UNITED STATES Population, 1998:

(10-14yrs) 19,100,000 (15-19yrs) 19,300,000

From the Trends in the Well Being of America's Children & Youth, 1998 Publication:

On October 15, 1998, President Clinton hosted a White House Conference on School Safety that was participated via satellite coverage.

(Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention)

Incidents during the 1997/98 School Year was called "A Year Of Tear's" report:

137 incidents of gun violence involving children, 0 -18 years of age

• 67/137 (48.9%) of the shooters/offenders were under 14 years old
• 53/137 (38.7%) the gun belonged to a family member
• 44/137 (32.1%) incidents took place in school
• 55/137 (40.1%) incidents took place in a residence

Incidents included in this report resulted in 80 deaths and 84 non-fatal injuries (including 23 people injured in the W. Springfield, Oregon school shooting)

No one is immune to gun violence!

(Center To Prevent Handgun Violence Report, Oct 14, 1998) http://www.cphv.org

1 in 6 10th graders are marijuana users

1 in 5 high school seniors are marijuana users

Of the 9.5million current drinkers aged 12-20yrs in 1996, 4.4million were binge drinkers including1.9milion heavy drinkers

(U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services)

Personal crime generates $105Billion annually in property and productivity losses and medical expenses. This amounts to an annual "crime tax" of roughly $425 per man, woman and child in the USA.

(National Institute of Justice, 1996) http://www.ncpc.org/11stat.htm

The number of juvenile murders increased by 82% between 1984 and 1994. Murders of juveniles with a firearm nearly tripled during this period.

(Office of Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention) http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs

90% of 12th graders have friends who use alcohol, 63% know someone who has a drinking problem & 26 % have friends who use LSD, cocaine or heroine.

(Center on Addiction & Substance Abuse at Columbia University, New York, NY)

Criminologists expect juvenile crime to rise by 114% over the next decade:

It costs society $39,000/year to keep a youth in a correctional center

The average child witnesses 8000 murders & 100,000 other acts of violence by the time he/she finishes elementary school

U.S. citizens posses more than 200 million guns, 73 million rifles, 66 million handguns and 62 million shotguns

In 1990, handguns murdered 10 people in Australia, 22 in Great Britain, 68 in Canada and 10,567 in the USA

Ball State researchers surveyed 3,357 high school students and found that 74% sanctioned hitting a sibling after being hit first

(Bureau of Justice Statistics) http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs

1,182,169 men & women are incarcerated in USA's federal and state prisons as of 31 Dec 1997

A woman is physically abused every nine seconds in USA

(Surveyed by Family Violence Prevention Fund, Lieberman Research Inc.)

The average court career of a juvenile has 2.2 referrals (2.4 referrals for males & 1.5 referrals for females (National Center for Juvenile Justice)

1 in 6 youths charged with a violent offence will return to court intake on a new violent referral

As of 1995, 23 states hold parents responsible for restitution. However, in nearly all states, the parents of a delinquent minor can be held liable for the costs of confinement/and, or services provided their children.

(National Centre for Juvenile Justice)

Interviews with law enforcement officials indicate that educational and preventive services are more likely to be a deterrent to youth crime than is construction of more prisons

In a survey by North Eastern University, the vast majority of law enforcement officials agreed that America could sharply reduce crime if government invested more in programs to help children & youth get a good start.

They added that if America does not pay for needed investments in programs to help children & youth NOW, we will pay for more in crime later...

Nationally, the Juvenile Violent Crime arrest rate increased from 305 per 100,000 youths ages 10-17yrs in 1985 to 517 per 100,000 in 1994

Teen Homicides (15-19yrs) increased from 1602 in 1985 to 3569 in 1994.

(Kids Count Data Book) http://www.aecf.org/aeckids.html

Teens listen to an estimated 10,500 hours of rock music between the seventh and twelfth grades alone - just 500 hours less than the total time they spend in school over twelve year.

(The Parents Music Resource Center)

"Music and videos are tools which influence our youth"

(John Karroll, Co-Founder, Stop the Violence, Face the Music Society)

http://www.stv.net/Contents/Stats/01.html

Every day...

• 13 youth commit suicide,
• 16 are murdered,
• 1,000 become mothers,
• 100,000 bring guns to school,
• 2,200 drop out of school,
• 500 begin using drugs,
• 1,000 begin drinking alcohol,
• 3,500 are assaulted,
• 630 are robbed, and
• 80 are raped.

(Andres Tapia, 1994 Christianity Today.)

In 10 minutes some very disturbing things will happen to America's youth:

• Fact: 10 kids will attempt suicide.
• Fact: 105 kids will quit school.
• Fact: 618 high school seniors will smoke marijuana.
• Fact: 20 girls between ages 15-19 will become pregnant.
• Fact: 5 of those girls will give birth to illegitimate babies.
• Fact: 8 of those girls will have abortions.
• 
  
  

Here are some rather disturbing statistics about our young people:

* 1.1 million teens become pregnant each year, representing 11% of all teens aged 15-19.

* Almost half of all teen pregnancies (449,000) end in abortion.

* The U.S. spends 16.65 billion per year on health and other services for families started by women who gave birth while in their teens.

* One in every three teenagers has used an illicit drug within the past 30 days.

* One in every three crimes is committed by a juvenile. People under 21 account for more than half of the arrests for serious crimes.

* Arrests of youth under 18 for drug abuse increased 60-fold from 1960-1980. Arrests of high school seniors for drunkenness rose by 300% in the same period.

* 20% of those hospitalized for depression are under the age of 18.

* Suicide is the second leading cause of death among youth age 15 to 19. It has tripled since 1960.

* Suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students.

* A recent study reveals that 85% of all adolescents think about attempting suicide, at some point. It is an epidemic of despair. (Dr. David J. Seifert, Modesto, California.)

Crime

These numbers have become, quite literally, a national crime. Children and youths ages 12 to 20 constitute 57 percent of all serious arrests made in America. And the problem is getting worse. (Church Life Magazine, Vol. 2 #2, p. 46.)

"Ten years ago, it was a shock to see a 7, 8 or 9-year-old come into the system; now it's not," said Danny Dawson, chief of the Orange-Osceola County state attorney's juvenile division in Orlando. "It's a trend." (Orlando, Fla.(AP) -- Children committing crimes.)

Nationally, records show, 1,311 youths under age 19 were charged with murder last year; in Florida during the past two years, children aged 5, 8, and 9 have been charged with killing younger playmates, Mr. Dawson said recently.

Kathleen Heide, an associate director of the International Center for the Study of Violence at the University of South Florida in Tampa, recently completed a two-year study of adolescent killers.

Prosecutors and judges had long been guided by the "rule of sevens." Children younger than 7 were thought to be incapable of forming criminal intent and therefore not accountable for their actions. By age 14, it is believed that children can comprehend right from wrong. But the rule is fading.

"You still think of them as children," Mr. Dawson said. "But I don't think (the public has) seen what we've seen. They don't see the 7-year-old who has a criminal mind and has the street savvy of a 16- year-old."

For youths, the United States is the most violent civilized nation in the world.

* The homicide rate for males between the ages of 15 and 24 is 22 homicides per 100,000 for the United States, more than four times higher than the next highest country.

* Homicide is the most likely cause of death for young males, and accounts for 42 percent of all black male deaths.

* The youth arrest rate for murder, manslaughter, rape, robbery and aggravated assault increased 16 percent between 1989 and 1990. The cost of incarcerating young offenders runs about $29,600 per person, or $1.7 billion a year.

* Seven percent of the youths account for 79 percent of all youth- committed serious, violent offenses.

* A total of $4.2 billion a year is spent on 260 delinquency prevention programs, which are spread among 17 agencies within seven federal departments. (Source: Senate Governmental Affairs Committee, General Accounting Office; The Columbus Dispatch, April 1, 1992, p. 3A.)

Arrests for violent crimes perpetrated by American youths under the age of 18 jumped from 54,596 in 1970 to 104,137 in 1992--a 91% hike?

Sex

The statistics are little short of staggering: American girls, on average, begin having sex at age 16, boys, at 15 p. By the end of their teens, 70 percent of girls and 80 percent of boys have been sexually active. (U.S. News & World Report, December 22, 1986, p. 8.)

50% of today's sexually active males had their first sexual experience between the ages of 11-13. (Robert Coles and Geoffrey Stokes, Sex and the American Teenager, New York: Harper & Row/ Rolling Stone Press, 1985)

1,100,000 teenage girls became pregnant in 1984. 30,000 girls who become pregnant each year are under 14 years of age. 80% of the pregnant teenage girls will drop out of school. 70% of the unwed teenage mothers will go on welfare. (Jay Kesler, Parents of Teenagers, Illinois: Victor Books, 1984)

"If present trends continue, 40% of today's 14 year old girls will be pregnant at least once before age 20." (Claudia Wallis, "Children Having Children," TIME December 9th, 1985)

In 1981, teens aged 15-19 had 433,330 abortions, a rate of 43.3 abortions/1000 pregnancies, this is over 1/4 of the abortions performed in the U.S. (Alan Guttmacher Institute, Teenage Pregnancy: The Problem That Hasn't Gone Away, New York: Alan Guttmacher Institute, 1981.)

The data released Thursday are part of a 1990 survey of 11,631 high school students nationwide.

By senior year, one in four high school students has had at least four sex partners, a new study says.

An earlier report said half of students have sex before age 16, with a third of boys and a fifth of girls starting before 15.

The latest report focuses on those reporting four or more partners.

That includes:

• 6.8% of ninth-grade girls and
• 18.9% of ninth-grade boys.
• 17% of 12th-grade girls and
• 38.5% of 12th-grade boys.
• 37.8% of blacks,
• 15.8% of whites and
• 16.5% of Hispanics.

Kolbe says teens who have multiple partners are playing "Russian roulette. Even pulling the trigger once can result in infection, and the more you pull the trigger the more likely it is."

The survey also shows:

Fewer than half of students reported using a condom the last time they had sex. Rates were lower yet for those who'd had at least four partners -- especially the girls. (USA Today, April 10, 1992, p. D-1.)

Teenagers are becoming sexually active at a younger age. Researchers at Indiana University surveyed 677 seventh through ninth- graders and found 55 percent admit they have had sex.

By age 13, guys who have never had sex are in the minority. Girls who are virgins are in the minority by age 15.

In another survey, researchers found similar results. By surveying 303 guys, Parade Magazine learned that by the time the average guy reaches 18, he'll have had sex with five girls.

According to ABC's Primetime Live, sexually active teenage girls wish they were virgins again. The prime-time news magazine aired a segment on their September 9, 1993, show dealing with the epidemic of teen pregnancies.

Sawyer cited statistics (no sources) that by the end of the ninth grade 33% of American girls have had sexual intercourse and 70% by the end of high school. She supported this contention with interviews of several sexually active teenage girls, some as young as the eighth grade and claiming as many as 10 different partners.

At the end of the segment. Sawyer reported that "every single one of these sexually active girls confided with us they wish they'd said 'no.'"

Since the popular push for contraceptives for teens began, teenage sexual activity and pregnancy have increased almost 400%. 70% of unwed teen mothers will go on welfare. Of teens who marry because of pregnancy, 60% will be divorced in five years. (Josh McDowell.)

Teen-age motherhood has reached its highest level in 15 years, a study shows.

Thursday's report also confirms a rise in unwed motherhood: 1 in 4 babies born in 1989 had an unmarried mother, say researchers at the National Center for Health Statistics.

The combination "portends a future generation of fragile families," Dr. Louis Sullivan, Health and Human Services secretary, said in a statement.

The report, based on information from more than 4 million birth certificates, shows 36.5 of every 1,000 girls ages 15 to 17 had a baby in 1989; that's up 8% from the 1988 rate.

The rate for older teens, ages 18 and 19, went up 6%, reaching 86.5 births per 1,000.

While teen birth rates went up, abortion rates were steady. So researchers conclude that more teens got pregnant.

"That's consistent with the fact that more teens are sexually active," says researcher Stephanie Ventura.

More than half of white teen mothers and 9 out of 10 black teen mothers were unmarried. (USA Today, 12-31-91, p. 1A.)

Community members and representatives of community agencies and organizations were united in their view of drinking and driving as the greatest highway safety problem.

Studies of Hispanic subgroups have shown that alcohol consumption, especially among males, may be generally higher than among the U.S. population as a whole. (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 1989, Molina and Aguirre-Molina, 1994)

Alcohol has been implicated in vehicular, motorcycle, and pedestrian deaths among Hispanic populations at rates somewhat above the norm for the country.

A recent study revealed that arrest rates among Hispanic men are disproportionately high: 21% of those arrested for impaired driving nationally were Hispanic, while at the time of the study Hispanic only accounted for 9% of the population. (Shine and Mauer, 1993)

Although drinking and driving is most often described as a male problem, study participants in urban areas acknowledged that younger Hispanic women are drinking more.

Participants of a recent study emphasized that a major contributor to the problem of drinking and driving among Hispanics is the lack of understanding about the effects of alcohol on driving ability. Many participants did not seem to be fully aware of the impact of even one or two drinks on driving ability.

Participants in a group composed of Puerto Rican women stated that young people in their twenties use designated drivers much more frequently than do older drivers.

In border areas the ease with which alcohol can be purchased in Mexico by underage drinkers was also cited as a contributing factor to underage drinking.

http://www.madd.org/stats/stat_hispanics.shtml

HEC's E-Mail List
Ministry Links
Washington State Directory
Washington State Home Page
Cardin Family Home Page