Aphrodite Jones True Crime Author

Every day I read news about yet another senseless shooting or another hate crime.

I've spent the past decade talking to real teenagers around the country... I've picked their brains about sex, drugs, their parents, and the crimes that have touched their lives, I've come to realize that many teenagers are just plain unhappy with the American dream. They reach out to the dark side, they turn to drugs, they turn to alternative realities, some commit hate crimes, all because they are lashing out.

Many young people don't like the idea of being "normal," they hate "normal" and "mainstream" people. Often, the problem stems from teens having too much free time on their hands. If these young people were forced to go to work, if they were given mandatory chores at home, and also asked to hold down minimum-wage jobs, might they be more appreciative of just how lucky they are? Why not send them away to live and work in a third-world country, in a place where food is scarce and leisure time is never an option? They could help some of the less fortunate souls in this world, and it would be a real eye opener for them.

As I was out doing rounds of interviews, some teens talked about how their focus on "the material" had created an internal dilemma for them. It might sound silly, but through it all, I found that many teens hold designer clothes as one of their high priorities. What I realized, to my horror, was that they didn't care that much about crime, about being victims, about work ethics, or even about morals.

All of us need to reach out and teach teens that what truly matters in life is not what we own, but what we earn, what we achieve, who we help, and who we love. Sure, we can walk in designer athletic shoes, as long as we realize that they're only good if they can carry us to the next achievement, to the next goal, and to the next act of love and humanity. I believe many teens have lost sight of that completely.

In my books, I've seen a theme play out over and over again: teens want a free ride, they don't want to be held responsible for their actions, they have the wrong priorities, and they have no real sense of themselves.

In The Embrace , I followed a group of kids in Florida, they were "vampire" teens who participated in the murder of a girl's parents, ostensibly because they wanted her to run away with them.

In All She Wanted, I covered the saga of three teens who became the victims of a hate crime murder in Nebraska, something their "friends" committed because they were bored and angry.

In Cruel Sacrifice, I chronicled a group of four teenage girls who killed a twelve-year-old, they burned her alive, because they were jealous of her. After writing each of these tragic stories, I walked away with the sense that the teens involved weren't very sorry after the fact. I was appalled, but hoped these were just a few isolated cases of teens without hope.

But, instead of teen violence being an anomaly, instead of teens learning from other's mistakes, it seems teen violence is becoming almost a norm. I have spent years writing real-life accounts about teens who have paid the ultimate price, who have been sentenced to death for their actions, because I thought I could show teens the downside of living on the edge.

From my fan mail, I know there are some kids out there who have gotten the message, so I'm not saying, by any means, that all American teens are evil, uncaring, or into violence.

I wonder why more teens don't want to take things seriously. If anyone out there has an opinion or solution you'd like to share, I'm working on a new study about troubled youth in America. Whatever your age, feel free to write me by clicking here.

Thank you.

Aphrodite Jones

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Regarding Young Teens and the Death Penalty:

"In my opinion, any person age 16 and under is not operating with a full understanding of the consequences of their actions. Because of this even, the worst offenders -- the cold-blooded killers who fall into this age group -- should not be subject to the death penalty. For these young offenders, a sentence of life without parole is more appropriate. Their daily hell behind bars will act as a deterrent to other teens with violent propensities. Teens behind bars will become constant reminders to young teens that fatal actions will be met with permanent punishment." -- Aphrodite Jones

Aphrodite Jones

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