NCJ Number
192167
Date Published
February 2000
Length
20 pages
Annotation
After examining trends in juvenile violence, this paper identifies risk factors for predicting youth violence and strategies for reducing youth violence, with attention to the role of State governors in countering youth violence.
Abstract
Despite recent decreases in juvenile crime, including violent juvenile crime, there is little dispute among experts, policymakers, and the general public that the rates of juvenile crime and violence remain too high. Juveniles are not just the perpetrators, however, they are also the victims; juveniles are more than two-and-a half times more likely than adults to be the victims of violent crime. Governors and policymakers now have more information available to them as they design more effective treatment and prevention strategies for youth violence. Through rigorous evaluations, research has begun to identify which program models and strategies reduce crime and violence and which do not; for example, understanding that the majority of juvenile crime, especially violent juvenile crime, is committed by a minority of youth suggests that there is a need for effective identification and differentiation strategies and targeted high-impact efforts. Targeted interventions aimed at this small group of juvenile offenders should have the greatest impact on crime reduction and the maximization of resources. There is also a strong link between child abuse and neglect and later violent offenses by the victims of such abuse and neglect. Any comprehensive violence-reduction strategy should include ways to reduce the incidence of child abuse and neglect. State strategies that recognize the role and influence of risk factors, yet build on the characteristics of youth that protect them from risk, hold the key to a long-term, comprehensive violence-reduction strategy. States are at the forefront of establishing juvenile policy. Through executive branch agencies and leadership, governors can promote targeted intervention efforts, innovation, research, and interagency and intra-agency coordination. 6 tables, appended list of 12 annotated resources, and 23 notes