NCJ Number
144873
Date Published
1993
Length
68 pages
Annotation
This report analyzes the causes and impacts of violence in Maryland and recommends strategies and actions by the criminal justice system, the media, and the education system to prevent and control violence.
Abstract
Violence exists in the streets, in homes, in schools, and in entertainment. Strategies for change must be multifaceted, holistic, and community-based. The recommended approaches should be field tested in one site to determine the feasibility of broader-based implementation and to provide a model for the rest of the State and the country. Actions should include making police agencies a catalyst for change, eliminating cash matching requirements for Federal funds, increasing resources for urban areas, targeting repeat violent offenders, expediting criminal trials, and implementing conflict resolution strategies. The media should increase publicity of antiviolence programs, support community-based family programs, and reduce violent programming. Schools and school districts should conduct comprehensive efforts to combat drug abuse and violence, create local school security committees, review their existing policies and procedures, and include conflict resolution education in their health or civics curricula. Additional recommendations, figures, chart, reference lists, and appended program descriptions