Youth Violence

Violence: What do we mean?

	violent crime (homicide, etc.)
	suicide
	fighting
	bullying
	sexual harassment
	child/adolescent abuse
	date/relationship violence
	gang-related violence

Status Offenses

	truancy from school
	underage drinking
	buying cigarettes
	running away

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Violent Crime Index Offenses

	murder
	rape
	aggravated assault
	armed robbery
	arson

Data Sources

	Youth Risk Behavior Survey
	National Youth Gang Survey
	Uniform Crime Reports (UCR), FBI
	National Crime Victimization Survey, DOJ
	Health Behavior of School-aged Children Survey, National Institute for Child Health & Development & WHO (bullying)
	National School Climate Survey, 2001

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Violent Schools: Myth or Reality?

	schools among the safest places for children
	homicides in school rare: of 2,000 killings of children/year, 10 in or near schools
	300 youth killed by guns elsewhere for one killed by  gun at school
	% carrying gun/weapon to school declined 1996-2001
	most school crime is theft, not violent: 1% report being victim of a “serious” school crime

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Violent Crime Index Offenses by Sex, 1981-1998

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Youth Gangs

	National Youth Gang Survey- surveys 5,000 law enforcement agencies nationwide
	40% jurisdictions report active youth gangs in 2000
	prevalence of active youth gangs varies by region: West (74% of jurisdictions) vs  Northeast (31%)
	42% youth gangs involved in street sale of drugs

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Dating Violence

the perpetration or threat of an act of violence by at least one member  of an unmarried couple on the other member within the context of dating.  This violence encompasses any form of sexual assault, physical violence, and verbal or emotional abuse.

Dating Violence

	Estimated prevalence of nonsexual dating violence:
		22% among male & female h.s. students
		32% among college students
	females more likely victims
	80-90% of rapes on college campuses committed by someone victim knows
	characteristics of perpetrators: sexually aggressive male peers, heavy alcohol or drug use, dating violence normative, traditional sex roles, rape myths, family history of observing or experiencing abuse

Safe Dates
Foshee etal, AJPH 1998

	primary & secondary prevention
	8th & 9th graders in rural North Carolina
	school: student theater; 10 session curriculum; poster contest to:
		change dating violence norms
		teach conflict management skills
		normalize seeking  help
	community: train professionals, crisis lines, support groups
	outcomes:
		program students report less verbal, psychological, physical abuse than controls
		program students more likely to endorse non-violence norms, have better communication skills & more favorable attitude towards seeking help

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Takes many forms:

	threats
	physical harm
	rejection
	name calling
	teasing
	rumors
	take belongings

"30%"

	30% US middle school students “involved”:
		13% bullying
		11% being bullied
		6% both bullying & being bullied
	males bully/bullied more than females
	peaks in middle school
	bullying/being bullied associated with adjustment problems
	differences between those bullying & bullied
	successful interventions in Norway, England, South Carolina

Critical Elements of Violence Prevention Programs
Dusenbury etal, Jnl of School Health, 1997

	family, peer, community components
	begin early, then reinforce (“no quick fixes”)
	developmentally tailored
	promote personal & social competencies
	interactive teaching techniques
	culturally competent
	staff training/supervision (fidelity)
	positive school climate, starting in classroom
	promote norms vs. violence, bullying

Early Childhood Interventions

	Nurse Home Visitation Program (Olds, 1998)
	High/Scope Perry Preschool Project (Schweinhart & Weikart, 1993)
	Seattle Social Development Project (Hawkins & Catalano, 1999)

Multisystemic Therapy

	youth “nested” in interconnected systems
	violent behavior maintained by problem transactions within/between systems (e.g. school & home)
	builds on strengths
	help parents deal with child’s behavior problems
	help parents build support network/access services they need
	masters level staff
	low caseloads
	24/7 availability x 4 months
	50 hours face-face
	effective reducing antisocial behavior of violent & chronic juvenile offenders