The United States’ youth crime rates are dropping at an astounding rate. Youth arrests dropped for the 13th year in a row, hitting their lowest level in 60 years. This trend shows an optimistic future for the criminal landscape of the next generation, as these teenagers head into adulthood. The number of juveniles arrested fell 11 percent between 2017 and 2018, while adult crime rates fell two percent.
The cause of the decrease is debated by criminologists with explanations ranging from education programs to decreased arrest incentives, but regardless of the reason, cities are embracing the trend. San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors has voted to close their juvenile detention center by 2021, because there are simply not enough offenders to keep it in operation.
It can sometimes feel like violent news is all around us, but it’s important to remember that the drop in crime rates offers a hopeful prognosis for the safety and future of our cities.
