New book featuring criminologists at PVAMU addresses youth violence in Caribbean

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PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (July 24, 2024) - The Caribbean is one of the most violent regions in the world, according to World Bank. The number of homicides per person in the Caribbean and Latin America is five times higher than in North America and 10 times higher than in Asia.

The Caribbean has been called "America's backyard," and criminal activity that happens there affects the southwestern United States and beyond.

In a compilation of works, a new book highlights the historical, economic, and human dynamics of youth crime in the nations of the West Indies, offering insights on topics such as violence, trafficking, drugs, gangs, schools, mental health, and family dynamics, particularly on the larger islands.

The book, "Youth Crime and Violence in the Caribbean," was edited by criminologists at Prairie View A&M University and North Carolina Central University. It is published by Rowman & Littlefield.

"Violence is the historical legacy of the Caribbean due to the region's long history of colonization, slave trade, civil conflicts, authoritarian governments, and history of a male-dominated culture," explains Dr. Sherill V. C. Morris-Francis, assistant professor at the College of Juvenile Justice at Prairie View A&M University, who co-edited the book and wrote its introduction. "Violence as the chosen method for domination and conflict resolution has extended to the youth population, creating an enormous challenge for those seeking to create a Caribbean free from youth violence."

"Youth Crime and Violence in the Caribbean" highlights issues confronting youth in the region and presents research on youth violence in 15 chapters written primarily by scholars of Caribbean descent. The book also features information on efforts to address the violence and recommendations for policy and practice, including ways developed countries can help.

Among the issues addressed in the book are an overview of youth crime and violence in the region, the prevalence and cost of youth violence, and youth crime and violence in various countries, including the Cayman Islands, Haiti, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Jamaica. Other chapters address issues related to parental incarceration, human trafficking, drugs, gangs, school violence and victimization, and youth mental health.

"Recent events in Haiti and neighboring Venezuela demonstrate how quickly dynamics in the Caribbean can shift if crime is not addressed and people increasingly disengage from systems in a way that allows despots to rise to power," says Dr. Camille A. Gibson, PVAMU COJJ professor, who co-edited the book.

"Addressing the complex phenomenon of youth crime and violence requires a holistic approach that considers its economic, political, sociocultural, educational, and public health implications," adds Dr. Lorna E. Grant, professor and director of the MS Criminal Justice Program in the Department of Criminal Justice at North Carolina Central University, who co-edited the book. "Policymakers, public and private sector organizations, and members of civil society need to be aware of the significant challenges of crime and violence in the Caribbean and take the steps necessary to break the cycle of youth crime and violence."

Summarized from the book "Youth Crime and Violence in the Caribbean," edited by Morris-Francis, SVC (formerly at Mississippi Valley State University), Gibson, CA (Prairie View A&M University), and Grant, LE (North Carolina Central University). Copyright 2024. All rights reserved.

-PVAMU-

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