How have crime rates increased in the past 10 years? By: Karla Mejia

1. How have crime rates increased in the past 10 years?By: Karla Mejia Crime Rates Increasing

2. Introduction • This issue has affected many communities because innocent people are being targeted by the ones who are committing the crimes. • Many young kids are committing crimes as young as 10 years old. • Gang members are also involved in committing crimes. • Most of the teens who commit crimes are pressured by older gang members. • When people think about crime in “Los Angeles”, they normally think about gangsters seen on the television or out on the streets.

3. Literature Review • I believe that crime rates have increased up to 10% during the past 10 years. • In, “Cites Grapple with Crimes by Kids” the thesis is that many juveniles are committing violent crimes that are putting their lives in danger. In, “The Return of L.A Gangs” the main assertion is, in the past the streets were mildly quiet, now things have changed, and violence is stirring up again on the streets. • In, “Cites Grapple with Crimes by Kids” the author claims that, “Evan Savob, 15, was sentenced more than 26 years in prison for stabbing a playmate to death, one of the most brutal murders in Washington”(Johnson 1). • In, “The Return of L.A Gangs” the author states that, “Tomas was putting on her make-up when a bullet came through the window and hit her just above the eye”(McCarthy 3).

4. Research and Analysis • The type of research I conducted were interviews. I asked 5 different people of various ages 10 questions. • key Finding Differences • people were sad at the fact that kids are getting injured because of crimes • people were angry, because they know that those individuals are too smart to commit an ignorant crime • Analysis • kids as young as 10 are committing crimes, crimes that have to do with murder, assaults, and homicides. • Children fall into peer pressure by their “so called-friends” • Innocent people are the ones who suffer by getting injured, instead of the individuals who commit the crimes. • Connection to Literature Review • I read two articles that were about teenagers and gang members that were involved in crimes • During the interviews, they were asked who they thought were the ones creating the crimes and they answered teenagers and gang members • Both responses found in my data, are both the same because both have to do with children and gang members committing the crimes.

5. Call to Action • My call to action for this research project is to create a graffiti art class for all ages. This new program will take place in the school’s auditorium. It will be held on Saturdays. This class is open for anybody that wants to join, but this class will mostly be for students that enjoy graffiti art, and that want to make a change in themselves by ending illegal tagging. • In order for people to know about this new program, I will make flyers and post them all around the school so people can get the message about this new graffiti art class. They will be posted on the hallways, in classrooms, and in the school’s office as well. • Instead of people tagging out on the streets, they can create art as form of expression that won’t be viewed as “writing on the wall”. It will not a form of violation of property, but as a masterpiece that will be created in the new graffiti art class.

6. ESLR’s • Creative Mind: • I think outside the box • Come up with new ideas (Call to Action) • Academic Mind: • I have been working a lot on doing this research project successfully • It has helped me gain skills, skills in memorizing the key points that I will be saying on my speech. • Global Mind: • It has helped me think not only about myself, but of my community too. When I started doing this project, my own thoughts were the only ones that mattered to me. With the help of interviewing others, it me helped interact with others and used their opinions as data connecting my research project to my community.

7. www.gangwar.com/blog/ www.nationalgangcenter.gov/Survey-Analysis/Ga...