NCJ Number
165790
Editor(s)
K Melville
Date Published
1994
Length
2 pages
Annotation
The public debate and lack of consensus about what actions to take to address juvenile violence are examined.
Abstract
Crime is a serious problem, and juvenile violence is becoming worse. Children and adolescents are also victims of violence. Efforts to address juvenile delinquency are a top priority of almost every State legislature. However, agreement is lacking about what action to take beyond taking guns away from children and adolescents. Three major perspectives differ regarding the causes and solutions of juvenile delinquency. One group favors stricter punishments, but it is unclear whether society is willing to spend more on prisons and whether this approach will deter many juveniles from committing crime. Another group favors improving moral education and imposing curfews and censorship of violence in the media. However, this approach accepts a more intrusive role for government. The third recommended approach is to address underlying social and economic conditions. Some of these approaches would involve modest costs, but others would be quite expensive. The results of current studies to assess antiviolence programs may inform future debates, but deciding which direction is most appropriate is a matter of public judgment requiring careful deliberation and a serious effort to define common ground.