Featured Image
Photo/Bekah Richards. Used with permission. (Source)

Thousands of DC kids were exposed to gun violence in 2021. This group is working to stop the spread | WUSA 9

June 29, 2022
  • D.C. Policy Center

On June 29, 2022, the D.C. Policy Center’s article, Proximity to homicide exposure in Washington, D.C., 2021, was cited by WUSA 9:

Data showing how many D.C. kids are impacted by shootings reflects just how important that support is.

The DC Policy Center mapped it out.

“On average, when a homicide happened in DC [in 2021], there were about 2,800 kids that were nearby,” executive director of the center, Yesim Sayin said.

Sayin said in areas that see more violent crime, that number can get up into the hundreds of thousands.

“The trouble with this kind of exposure to violent crimes is it’s an adverse childhood experience,” she said. “Kids carry these experiences with them for their lifetimes. And they can actually become physically ill if they’re exposed to violent crime as children, they can experience mental health problems. So this is ultimately a health disparity.”

Read more: Thousands of DC kids were exposed to gun violence in 2021. This group is working to stop the spread | WUSA 9

Related: Proximity to homicide exposure in Washington, D.C., 2021 | D.C. Policy Center

Author

D.C. Policy Center


Established in 2016, the D.C. Policy Center is a non-partisan research and policy organization committed to advancing policies for a strong and vibrant economy in the District of Columbia. Through rigorous research and collaboration, the D.C. Policy Center develops and tests policy ideas, disseminates its findings, and engages in constructive dialogue and debate.

For more information, please see our About page.