NCJ Number
53981
Date Published
1978
Length
9 pages
Annotation
THE ETIOLOGY, PREDICTION, AND TREATMENT OF VIOLENCE IN JUVENILES ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
A REVIEW OF RESEARCH INTO THE CAUSES OF VIOLENCE IN YOUTHS CONCLUDES THAT ORGANIC, INTRAPSYCHIC, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND FAMILY INFLUENCES ALL MUST BE CONSIDERED IN EXPLORING THE CLINICAL DIMENSIONS OF VIOLENCE AND PARTICULARLY IN ASSESSING POTENTIAL FOR FUTURE VIOLENT BEHAVIOR. FURTHER SUPPORT FOR THE MULTIDIMENSIONALITY OF VIOLENCE IN JUVENILES IS FOUND IN TWO CASE STUDIES OF PARRICIDE AND IN STUDIES CONCERNED WITH ASSESSING HOMICIDAL RISK IN ADOLESCENTS. ONE STUDY FOUND SEVERAL NONSPECIFIC INDICATORS IN YOUTHS WHO HAD SHOWN A PROPENSITY FOR INJURING OTHERS. ANOTHER PRODUCED CRITERIA FOR ASSESSING HOMICIDAL RISK IN ADOLESCENTS. A THIRD STUDY, WHICH FOUND THAT ABSENCE OF SUICIDE ATTEMPTS WAS THE ONE FACTOR DISTINGUISHING HOMICIDE OFFENDERS FROM PEOPLE WHO HAD MADE VERBAL HOMICIDAL THREATS, DEVELOPED A GENERAL GUIDELINE FOR ASSESSING HOMICIDAL THREATS. A MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO STUDYING VIOLENCE AND TO WORKING WITH VIOLENT JUVENILES IS ADVISED. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT TREATMENT OR MANAGEMENT OF VIOLENT JUVENILES BE BASED ON THOROUGH EXAMINATION AND ASSESSMENT OF THE INDIVIDUAL, UNDERTAKEN WITH AN UNDERSTANDING THAT SOME YOUTHS WILL REQUIRE MEDICATION WHILE OTHERS WILL REQUIRE PSYCHOLOGICAL INTERVENTION, FAMILY THERAPY, ISOLATION, SEGREGATION, GROUP THERAPY, OR A COMBINATION OF TREATMENT MODALITIES. A CASE EXAMPLE ILLUSTRATING A COMPREHENSIVE, INDIVIDUALIZED APPROACH TO DEALING WITH A YOUTH WHO HAD SHOT AND KILLED HIS OLDER BROTHER IS PRESENTED. IT IS POINTED OUT THAT SUCH AN APPROACH DEMANDS COOPERATION AMONG THE MEDICAL, LEGAL, AND SOCIAL SCIENCE PROFESSIONS. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED.