Juvenile Crimes, Essay Example

Trenton is the seat of Mercer County, located in the central region of New Jersey. The city is 7.65 square miles and had a total population of 84,913 in 2010. The makeup of the population is predominantly Black at 52 percent, followed by Hispanic or Latino origin at 33.7 percent, with non-Hispanic whites reported at 13.5 percent. Males tip the gender demographic slightly at 51.6 percent. (U.S. Census Bureau) The U.S. Census Bureau recorded that 24.5 percent of Trenton, NJ residents lived below poverty level from 2006 – 2010. In seven categories of crime: murder, rape, robbery, assault, burglary, theft, and auto theft, Trenton, NJ trumps Los Angeles, CA for a higher rate in all categories. (MDMH, Inc. )

The juvenile crime in Trenton, NJ and Mercer County as a whole is low compared to the rest of the state. As of May 25, 2012, juveniles sentenced in Mercer County made up 3.85 percent of male juveniles and 4 percent of female juveniles sentenced statewide. The average age of committed juvenile offenders is 17 years old and come from grades 10 and 11. Black and Hispanic populations show the highest juvenile crime offenders, but this is representative of the population demographic. (NJ Office of the Attorney General Juvenile Justice Commision)

Gang activity is high in the city and in the schools. Seven-tenths of cities within New Jersey have a street gang presence and all three regions have reported increases in gang activity. Trenton is one of these cities. (New Jersey Department of Law & Public Safety) A high rate of poverty and a high population of teenagers contribute to the easy recruitment of street gangs, and increased level of juvenile crime. Without the increased gang activity, it is likely Trenton’s juvenile crime rate would be much lower.

Works Cited

MDMH, Inc. . Area Connect: Crime Rate Comparison: Trenton Vs. Los Angeles. 2012. 27 May 2012 <http://trentonnj.areaconnect.com/crime/compare.htm?c1=Trenton&s1=NJ&c2=Los+Angeles&s2=CA>.

New Jersey Department of Law & Public Safety. Gangs in New Jersey: Municipal Law Enforcement Response to the 2007 NJSP Gang Survey. 2008. 27 May 2012 <http://www.state.nj.us/lps/njsp/info/pdf/njgangsurvey-2007.pdf>.

NJ Office of the Attorney General Juvenile Justice Commision. Juvenile Demographics and Statistics. 25 May 2012. 27 May 2012 <http://www.nj.gov/oag/jjc/stats/05-25-12-Juvenile-Demographics-and-Stats.pdf>.

U.S. Census Bureau. State and County Quick Facts. 31 January 2012. 27 May 2012 <http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/34/3474000.html>.