Violence

Contributing writer, Jessie Lingenfelter. "Gun violence documentary screened." Times-Picayune, The (New Orleans, LA) 6 Feb. 2013, NEW ORLEANS PICAYUNE: B 01. NewsBank. Web. 24 Apr. 2013.

Violence and escalating murder rates amongst New Orleans youth are well known and extensively discussed problems throughout the city that have had numerous proposed solutions over the years. Local filmmaker John Richie explores the issues surrounding New Orleans youth violence and suggests several community based solutions in his documentary, “Shell Shocked”, that was screened at Dillard University’s freshmen convocation Jan 24. The documentary makes a point to address all of these negative problems with positive solutions, as it quickly cites several organizations that are making efforts to reach New Orleans youth on direct level. Richie especially wants to rid New Orleans youth of the cynical attitude and desensitization surrounding murder rates that often lingers after a childhood of exposure to violence. His focus for the immediate future of the documentary is to encourage more funding, resources, and volunteering to youth development programs.

MUSTIAN, JIM. "Researchers: BRAVE campaign reducing crime in 70805 area." Advocate, The (Baton Rouge, LA) 17 Apr. 2013, Main, South LA. & Business: 01B. NewsBank. Web. 24 Apr. 2013.

The rate of violent crime in Baton Rouge has fallen 16 percent since the Baton Rouge Area Violence Elimination project began last year, LSU researchers reported Tuesday. That includes a 36 percent decrease in the yearly homicide rate and a 45 percent decrease in the monthly homicide rate, said Ed Shihadeh, a sociology professor who coordinates the Crime and Policy Evaluation Research Group at LSU. Several known gang members identified through the project recently attended a "call-in" with local law enforcement authorities and community leaders, in which they were warned of the perils of living a life of crime and offered a way out. While the...