I have spent the past thirty years investigating criminal cases. In my early years, violent crimes were rarely committed by teenagers between the ages of 13 and 18. The most serious offenses among this group typically involved stealing cars or breaking and entering. However, a shift began in the early ’90s. I distinctly remember a case where a 12-year-old boy was charged with murder.
Fast forward to today, and we continue to see very young offenders committing capital crimes. Just recently, in the city where I reside, a 13-year-old child was arrested for shooting a public transit worker over an unpaid fare. These tragic incidents are now part of our daily reality. The question we must ask is: What has made our young people so angry?
Based on my years of investigative work and interviews with young male offenders, I have found a common pattern in their backgrounds. Most grew up in single-parent homes—usually with their mothers—in impoverished communities where drug addiction, alcoholism, and domestic violence were prevalent. I can personally relate to this kind of environment. I, too, grew up in a similar culture.
At one point in my youth, I was heading down the wrong path. However, my family—my mother, my brothers, and my sisters—stepped in and guided me back in the right direction. They instilled values in me that shaped my future and helped me avoid becoming another statistic. That experience taught me that family is essential to achieving success. Without strong guidance, many young people are left to navigate a harsh world on their own, often making destructive choices in the process.
So how do we change the mindset of children growing up in these conditions? How do we intervene when both parents and society seem indifferent to their struggles? It all starts with the parents—more specifically, the young mothers raising these children alone.
Mothers must understand that a child needs to be placed in an environment where they can thrive. Raising a child as a single parent is incredibly difficult, and doing so without support from a “village” makes it even harder. Engaging with children, nurturing them, and guiding them toward being assets to society is crucial.
Education is paramount. Without skills, opportunities for legal employment are limited. More importantly, we must teach children to become business owners. Discussions about saving, investing, and entrepreneurship should be a part of daily conversations at home. Financial security is a key factor in reducing violence. Many young people resort to crime simply because they see no other way to earn money.
I do not condone violence in any form, and I recognize the challenge of reshaping the thinking of our youth. However, I firmly believe that most of the violence committed by young people today is directly linked to financial struggles. If we truly want to change the trajectory of our communities, we must start with education, financial literacy, and strong parental guidance. Most importantly, we must emphasize the role of family—because without it, too many young people are left without direction or hope.
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