Youth Violence Prevention: A Cost Effective Strategy for Law Enforcement?

• NCJ Number: 166815
• Author(s): K Small
• Date Published: 1996
• Length: 22 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: California Cmssn on Peace Officer Standards and Training
• Sale Source: NCJRS Photocopy Services; POST Media Distribution Ctr
• Publication Type: Thesis/Dissertation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This research project investigated youth violence in urban areas of California, the cost-effectiveness of incarceration and California's Three Strikes Law, and costs of various violence prevention programs and strategies.

Abstract

Following a review of national youth violence trends, the research project report focuses on California's response to the youth crime problem. The report concludes law enforcement officials in California will have to find new and innovative ways of responding to the growing level of youth violence. The challenge will be to develop and become involved in violence prevention programs in a cost-effective manner since funding will be scarce. An improved partnership between law enforcement and schools and better targeting and referral to community-based violence prevention programs represent cost-effective options. The cost-effectiveness of violence prevention strategies and risk factors for violence are discussed. 26 endnotes, 1 table, and 2 figures