The harrowing distinction of being the youth homicide capital of California has come back to haunt Monterey County for the fourth time in five years.
A study, “Lost Youth: A county-by-County Analysis of 2013 California Homicide Victims Ages 10 to 24,” released by the Violence Policy Center today, notes Monterey County topped the state for having the highest rate of homicides victims between ages 10 and 24, with 22 homicide victims within that age group.
The study, which has been conducted for five years, point out the youth homicide rate in the county has dropped by 25 percent since 2009, when Salinas recorded 29 homicides—its all-time record.
In 2011, the county ranked No. 3 on the list, with 16 youth homicide victims and a 16.96 youth homicide rate per 10,000 youth population. That showed signs of hope. But in 2012 and 2013, the youth homicide rate soared again, bringing the youth homicide rate to 23.48 per 10,000 on both years.
The study shows that in 2013, 87 percent of the youth homicide victims died during a gang-related confrontation. Twenty-one of the 22 homicide victims were male and 18 of those were Hispanic.
“Most of California’s young homicide victims die by gunfire,” VPC Executive Director Josh Sugarmann says. “Comprehensive efforts to reduce youth homicide should take into account the role played by firearms.”
In 2013, 20 out of the 22 young victims who died in the county were shot and killed, one was killed by a knife, and the weapon used in the other case is unclear.
Below are the 10 California counties with the highest youth homicide victim rates for 2013:
Rank County Homicide Rate, Ages 10 to 24
1 Monterey 23.48 per 100,000
2 Madera 20.24 per 100,000
3 San Francisco 19.94 per 100,000
4 Alameda 19.51 per 100,000
5 Merced 19.39 per 100,000
6 Solano 13.70 per 100,000
7 Stanislaus 13.32 per 100,000
8 Butte 10.76 per 100,000
9 Kern 10.62 per 100,000
10 San Joaquin 10.42 per 100,000
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