Youth Homicide Rates Touch 30 Year Low in 2010: CDC

A new report published by the Centers for Disease and Control Prevention states that the homicide rate for youth aged 10-24 years in the United States touched a 30-year low in 2010.

The decline in the homicide rate over recent years was noticed across all age and racial groups.

The researchers investigated the homicide trends from 1981-2010. They noticed a variation in the rate of youth homicide. The youth homicide rates were at a high peak from 1985-1993 and then gradually declined from 1999. In 2010 the youth homicide rate was 7.5 percent per 100,000, the lowest in the 30-year period.

"We are encouraged to see a decline in the homicide rate among our youth but unfortunately, homicide continues to rank in the top three leading causes of death for our young people," said Linda C. Degutis, Dr.P.H., M.S.N., director, CDC's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. "Our youth represent our future and one homicide is one too many.  Comprehensive approaches that include evidence-based prevention strategies are essential to eliminate homicide as a leading cause of death of young people."

In the year 2010, 4,828 homicides were recorded among the youth. The rate was the highest in 1993 (15.9 in 100,000).In the year 2010, an estimated $9 billion was lost in productivity and medical cost as a result of youth homicide. During the 30 -year period, the annual rate of youth firearm homicide among 10 to 24 years was 3.7 times the annual rate of non-firearm homicides.

The details of the study were published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.