POLICE ASSOCIATION OF NOVA SCOTIA 89 Many variables influence both the reporting of crimes and the laying of criminal charges. Many crimes are unsolved or unreported. Moreover, some of the behaviours included in the definition of youth violence used for this fact sheet are not criminal offences (for example, verbal humiliation). Despite these limitations, youth violence continues to receive significant attention from the media, the police and the general public. Some highlights reflecting the reality of the situation as best we know it, are as follows. * Every year, approximately 1 in 10 youth comes into contact with the police for violations of the Criminal Code or other federal statutes. Therefore, it is only a small minority of young people who become involved with the young offender system. Data collected in 1995 indicate that, of these youth, 19% were charged with a violent offence. Of the small number charged with a violent crime, only a minority related to homicide, attempted murder and aggravated assault. Since 1986, most youth charged under the Criminal Code or other federal statutes have been charged with property offences. * From 1985 to 1994, the youth homicide rate remained relatively stable, fluctuating between 1.5 and 2.5 per 100 000 youths. * Over the past 25 years, there have been significant shifts in the way police deal with youth crime. Police now lay charges more often than they did in the past. * There are no reliable statistics on the incidence and prevalence of youth violence involving members of visible minorities, sexual minorities, lesbians, parents or siblings. However, recent research suggests that these categories of individuals are at relatively high risk of experiencing youth violence. * Recent research on Canadian university and college campuses found between 16% and 35% of women surveyed had experienced at least one physical or sexual assault by a boyfriend in the previous 12 months. Approximately 45% of the women surveyed reported they had been sexually abused since leaving high school. Although this research used a sample over the age of 19, the findings are applicable to the youth population. Recent qualitative research with a sample of 13 to 17 year-old girlfriend abusers suggests that youth violence against female dating partners is an issue in primary and high schools. RISK FACTORS for youth violence perpetration and victimization Youth violence is not confined to any one subgroup of the youth population; it cuts across all racial, religious, gender and socio-economic backgrounds. However, there are factors which place certain groups of the youth population at risk of both offending and being victimized. Identification of these factors can facilitate successful early intervention, violence prevention and health promotion. 1. Socio-Demographic Factors Gender: Most violent youth are male. This is true for both individual and collective abusive behaviour. Of course, this does not mean that all male youth are violent. Clearly, only some young men are abusive. Male youth (including homosexuals, members of visible minorities and street youth) are also frequently victimized by youth violence. Income Level: Individuals with few economic resources are at higher risk of both perpetrating and being victimized by physical violence. People living in poverty do not have equitable access to legitimate opportunities for occupational or financial success. They are at greater risk of experiencing mental health problems, unemployment and school drop-out than people not living in poverty. Ethnic Origin: Male youth from ethnocultural minority groups are at higher risk of joining youth gangs and participating in collective acts of violence than youth who are not members of ethnic or visible minorities. This is not related to personality factors but to the racist discrimination, language barriers, lack of educational and employment opportunities, and poverty that many of these youth experience. 2. Familial Factors Violence: In many cases, perpetrators and victims of youth violence have also been abused in their childhood by adults. Many boys who have witnessed their mother being beaten, and/or have experienced child abuse, in turn abuse other family members and/or peers in adolescence and adulthood. Girls who witness or experience abuse in childhood often go on to suffer abuse at the hands of boyfriends and male partners. Evidence indicates that such experience increases the likelihood of later perpetration or experiencing abuse. continued...
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