What Works in Youth Violence Prevention

• NCJ Number: 196530
• Author(s): Dewey G. Cornell
• Date Published: April 1999
• Length: 26 pages
• Sale Source: University of Virginia
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: A version of this paper appears as a chapter in Cornell, D., Loper, A., Atkinson, A., and Sheras, P. (1999). Youth Violence Prevention in Virginia: A Needs Assessment, prepared for the Virginia Department of Health.

Annotation

This paper presents a selective overview of effective prevention and treatment strategies for reducing youth violence.

Abstract

In an attempt to assist schools and communities in assessing program and training needs concerning youth violence and gangs, this paper identifies what works in reducing youth violence through a selective overview of effective prevention and treatment strategies. Effective prevention strategies and programs are divided into three distinct areas. First, community-wide strategies include mentoring, supervised recreational programs, and community policing. Secondly, family-focused strategies include parent education, family therapy, and preschool programs. Lastly, school-based programs include: conflict-resolution training, violence prevention counseling, social competence development, bullying reduction, and drug education. In addition to prevention programs, the treatment of juvenile offenders is viewed as one of the most cost-effective methods of prevention and takes on three forms: institutional treatment, group homes, and non-institutional treatment. In order for programs to be effective, there needs to be a better means of assuring that they are accurately disseminated and loyally implemented; and there needs to be a better means of matching youth to the programs which include improved identification and assessment methods. Lastly, a successful program promotes careful consideration and ongoing evaluation. References