A Community at Risk
A special project by The Advocate
Homicide is a leading cause of premature death in the U.S. — especially for black boys and men.
Baton Rouge ranks as one of the nation’s more violent cities.
During 2012, The Advocate is examining violence in our community, its underlying causes and ways to address it.
Jan. 29, 2012
Violence in Baton Rouge
• Murder rate in EBR falls heavily on black boys and men
• EBR records 81 homicides in 2011
Feb. 26, 2012
High homicide rate plagues Baton Rouge
• Experts point to Hurricane Katrina as tipping point in recent increase
March 25, 2012
‘Why are you doing this?’
The Advocate takes a close look at one random act of violence.
• Crime is not just statistics. It is intensely personal — victims and perpetrators have faces.
April 29, 2012
‘It’s worse than living in a war zone’: Hopelessness, fear and poverty lead to violence
• Hopelessness, fear and poverty lead to violence
June 3, 2012
Business activity in neighborhoods around Plank Road in north Baton Rouge has been declining for at least a decade, while criminal activity is rampant.
• High crime rate bad for area business
June 24, 2012
Who’s in school?
July 29, 2012
Police work to break ‘us vs. them’ mindset
• Fear of retaliation, distrust of police widespread
Related Stories/Video:
• BRAVE program aims to build trust
• Video: Sheriff Gautreaux discusses how he’s ‘policing the police’
• Video: Chief White addresses what makes officers ‘irritable’
Aug. 26, 2012
Finding a way out
Concerned volunteer helped Craig Young, brother escape violence
Gautreaux uses ‘triangle analogy’ to explain character
Other Resources
Click here for an interactive map plots details of homicides in East Baton Rouge Parish: