NCJ Number
186727
Date Published
1995
Length
27 pages
Annotation
This booklet explains some of the ways that adults can work with their families, neighborhoods, and communities to prevent violence and make children and communities safer.
Abstract
The discussion notes that violence has many causes, including immediate causes, indirect causes, individual causes, and situational factors. It emphasizes that adults’ actions and words have a strong influence on children and urges parents to talk with their children about violence and all adults to discourage teasing, store weapons safely, and consider the types of movies and other media they use for entertainment. It suggests several strategies for developing safer neighborhoods, including getting to know neighbors, talking with other adults about how to handle children’s fights, and working together to establish physical conditions that do not invite crime or offer opportunities for violence. Further sections discuss communitywide strategies for preventing violence. These include working to develop community standards and expectations that reject violence and other crimes, emphasizing prevention as the preferred way to prevent violence, and learning about enjoyable ways for youth to have fun in the community. Checklist for violence prevention, case examples, handouts for children regarding what to do if they find a gun or have a problem, resource and publications lists, and list of members of the Crime Prevention Coalition