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Trends in Canadian Youth Homicide: Some Unanticipated Consequences of a Change in the Law

NCJ Number
126361
Journal
Canadian Journal of Criminology Volume: 32 Issue: 4 Dated: (October 1990) Pages: 651-656
Author(s)
R A Silverman
Date Published
1990
Length
6 pages
Annotation
Recent trends in Canadian Youth homicide are examined using definitions of youth derived from the legislation which delimits "young offenders in conflict with the law" on the one hand and a chronological definition of youth on the other.
Abstract
The two definitions produce different trend lines. The legal definition reveals a 300 percent rise in youth perpetrated homicide in recent years while the chronological definition indicates a declining trend. The definition used results in dissimilar conclusions about youth homicide that would in turn lead to differing interventions. Methodological and substantive issues concerning the meaning of the trend lines are discussed as are the implications for observations about youth violence in general. 2 charts, 3 notes, and 8 references. (Author abstract)