Prevention of Youth Violence

Abstract

Research on the epidemiology of violence has identified two groups of offenders: life-course-persistent offenders and adolescent-limited offenders. Violence prevention programs should seek either to prevent the emergence of violent behavior in childhood or to prevent the spread of violence in adolescence. Research has identified predictors of both patterns of behavior. Prevention programs should explicitly seek to address these risk and protective factors. A variety of intervention programs have reduced risk for violence and enhanced protection against violent behavior. Comprehensive community-wide strategies for the prevention of violence hold particular promise.