A fact sheet on youth violence compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention detailing risk factors, consequences, occurrence, and much more.
Addressing the Problem of Juvenile Bullying
2-page Fact Sheet posted by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). The Fact Sheet describes bullying and its effects and provides information about the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program, which is designed to reduce bullying among elementary, middle, and junior high school children.
Animal Abuse and Youth Violence
15-page Bulletin posted by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). This Bulletin describes psychiatric, psychological, and criminal research linking animal abuse to violence perpetrated by juveniles and adults. Particular attention is focused on the prevalence of cruelty to animals by children and adolescents and to the role of animal abuse as a possible symptom of conduct disorder. In addition, the motivations and etiology underlying the maltreatment of animals are thoroughly reviewed. The Bulletin includes recommendations to curb such cruelty, while providing contact information for additional resources concerned with violence perpetrated against animals and people.
Effects of Domestic Violence on Children and Adolescents: An Overview
The article examines the prevalence and domestic violence as a cause of traumatic stress in children.
Electronic Media and Youth Violence: A CDC Issue Brief for Educators and Caregivers (pdf)
"The brief summarizes what is known about young people and electronic aggression, provides strategies for addressing the issue with young people, and discusses the implications for school staff, education policy makers, and parents and caregivers. "
Evaluating G.R.E.A.T : A School-Based Gang Prevention Program (pdf)
Typical programs are directed at active gang members, and most target youths who are at risk for joining gangs. The G.R.E.A.T. program, in contrast, is presented to entire classrooms without attempting to predict which students are most likely to become involved with a gang. G.R.E.A.T. is aimed at middle school students and seeks to (1) reduce their involvement in gangs and delinquent behavior, (2) teach them consequences of gang involvement, and (3) help them develop positive relations with law enforcement. These three objectives are addressed through a nine hour curriculum taught in schools by uniformed law enforcement officers. Students are taught to set positive goals, resist negative pressures, resolve conflicts, and understand how gangs impact the quality of their lives. This report summarizes results of a five year study of the G.R.E.A.T. program. The study revealed that G.R.E.A.T. has modest positive effects on adolescents' attitudes and delinquency risk factors but no effects on their involvement in gangs and actual delinquent behaviors.
Female Gangs: A Focus on Research
12-page Bulletin posted by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). This Bulletin represents a step toward rectifying the deficiencies of prior research. It summarizes past and present research and tracks the rise in the number of female gangs and the increased public recognition of female gang involvement as a significant social problem. The authors consider the motivations for female gang membership, assess the delinquency and criminal activity of female gang members, examine the influence of ethnicity and gender norms on female gang behavior, and discuss the long-term consequences of gang membership. Recommendations for future research are also offered.
Homeless in Minnesota 2003 (pdf)
Drawn from interviews with more than 3,000 homeless adults and youth throughout Minnesota, this research describes some of the causes, effects, and circumstances surrounding homelessness. It identifies relationships between homelessness, sexual abuse and domestic violence.
This article, of the Research and Advocacy Digest from the Washington Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs, focuses on the intersection between sexual victimization and homeless youth, and provides an overview of research on this topic area. Numerous abstracts are detailed and discussed within this context.
Juvenile Offenders and Victims: 2006 National Report
This OJJDP Report presents a comprehensive, reliable, user-friendly account of juvenile offending, victimization of juveniles, and the justice system's response to these problems. National Report readers will find baseline information on juvenile population trends; patterns of juvenile victimization, including homicide, suicide, and maltreatment; the nature and extent of juvenile offending, including data on antisocial behavior and arrest rates; and the structure, procedures, and activities of the juvenile justice system, including law enforcement agencies, courts, and corrections. The Report also offers the latest information on topics such as school crime, missing children, youth gangs, racial disparity in the juvenile justice system, reentry, and recidivism.
Note: This document may take a few moments to load completely. This joint report by the National Center and the National Council on Crime and Delinquency analyzes existing, but largely unnoticed, research and data on the crime experiences of teenagers, ages 12 to 19, who make up 14 percent of the general population, but represent 25 percent of victims of violent crime. The report also outlines promising prevention and intervention strategies.
The report provides a review of existing research on teen victimization and its impact on youth in America as well as information on promising prevention and intervention techniques.
Parent Abuse: The Abuse of Parents by Their Teenage Children (pdf)
Posted by the National Clearinghouse on Family Violence. Defines parent abuse and discusses how wide spread it is. Discusses who is likely to be abusive, who is likely to be abused, the effects it has on the family, and how to get help for the abusive youth.
"This article discusses the challenges that Hispanic immigrant families face and reviews the potential negative consequences of these challenges for Hispanic adolescents. The article outlines the theoretical background, goals, and intervention components of Familias Unidas, a substance-abuse-prevention program for poor immigrant Hispanic adolescents and their parents. Familias Unidas is an ecodevelopmentally based, parent-centered intervention delivered by way of parent participatory-learning groups, parent-adolescent discussion circles, and periodic home visits."
Psychological Abuse: A Discussion Paper (pdf)
"This paper is a review of research on psychological abuse in interpersonal and family relationships including in settings such as long-term care residences.The paper presents research findings on the personal, economic and health related costs of psychological abuse to the individual and to society, and briefly outlines legal recourses for victims. It concludes by exploring ways to recognize and address psychological abuse, while emphasizing the importance of developing holistic approaches "
"This study evaluated the short-term impact of a school-based violence prevention initiative on developmental processes thought to place children at risk for future aggression and violence and examined the influence of classrooms and neighborhood contexts on the effectiveness of the violence prevention initiative."
A recent study found that approximately one in three teens have experienced verbal, physical or sexual abuse in their dating relationships and that there is a direct relationship between the declining economy and the increase of teen dating violence. The study also found that not enough parents recognize behaviors that may be warning signs of abuse.
Teen Dating Violence: Information and Resources (pdf)
This is an information packet developed by the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (NRCDV) as an introduction to the dynamics, prevalence and consequences of teen dating violence. The packet explores issues specific to teen dating violence, examines current provision of support services for teens and presents information about a variety of promising prevention /intervention strategies. The intent of packet contents is to examine some of the key dating violence issues currently facing teens and their advocates.
The Dangers of Detention: The Impact of Incarcerating Youth in Detention and Other Secure Facilities (pdf)
"This policy brief reviews the existing literature on the efficacy of detention and looks at the consequences of detention on young people, their families, and communities."
The Economic Dimensions of Interpersonal Violence (pdf)
This document examines the economic effects of interpersonal violence, including sexual violence, as well as the economic effects of interventions seeking to reduce violence and the ways in which economic factors such as poverty and income inequality contribute to violence.
The Epidemiology of Trauma and Trauma-Related Disorders in Children and Youth (pdf)
"This publication reviews general population studies, disaster research, child maltreatment studies, and special population studies that report the prevalence of PTSD in children, adolescents, and young adults. It includes a brief discussion of the cumulative adverse effects of traumatic stress experienced from infancy through adolescence."
The Facts On Teen Dating Violence (pdf)
A fact sheet created by FVPF on the prevalence and consequences of teen dating violence.
The Impact of Electronic Media Violence: Scientific Theory and Research (pdf)
"Research evidence suggests that exposure to violence through various forms of media increases the risk of violent behavior on the viewer’s part, just as growing up in an environment filled with real violence increases the risk of them behaving violently. In this article, this research evidence is critically assessed and the psychological theory that explains why exposure to violence has detrimental effects for both the short and long-term is elaborated. Finally the size of the “media violence effect” is compared with some other well-known threats to society to estimate how important a threat it should be considered."
This is the fourth in a series of handbooks designed for professional groups with funding from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. This handbook contains information that will help you learn about: domestic violence and its impact on adolescents; evaluating risk and safety planning for victims of domestic violence; coordinated justice responses to domestic violence and the role of juvenile custody programs and probation; risk assessment and reduction with adolescent perpetrators of intimate partner and family violence; promising practices for adolescent perpetrators of intimate partner and family violence; and resources on domestic violence for adolescent victims and perpetrators.
August 2000, 8-page Bulletin posted by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). This Bulletin analyzes findings from the School Crime Supplements (SCS) to the National Crime Victim Survey, describes characteristics of gangs in schools, and discusses contributory factors to gang prevalence in schools. The impact of gang presence in schools on victimization is also reviewed.
"This report examines the youth perspective on violence, life circumstance, and the response of the justice system to a supposed growth of violence among troubled youth. The report was also part of testimony before the House Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security on February 11, 2009."