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Youth Violence Prevention

Preventing violence among children and teenagers should be a joint effort among teachers, parents, professionals and the youths themselves. Youth violence is a considerable problem in the United States---according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 631,000 people between the ages of 10 and 24 years were treated in emergency rooms for violence-related injuries in 2007. With the proper knowledge and techniques, youth violence can be prevented.

  1. Definitions And Risk Factors

    • Youth violence is broadly defined as any violent acts involving young people, whether the youth is a witness, offender or victim. Youth violence can come in a variety of forms ranging from schoolyard bullying, pushing and slapping to serious crimes such as assault, rape and murder. Often, violence left unchecked in a person's early years can lead to more serious criminal activity in their teens and young adulthood.

      It can be quite complicated to identify risk factors in potentially violent youths. Poor academic performance, poverty, dysfunctional family lives, drug and alcohol use and negative peer pressure can all lead to violent behavior, although none of these factors will necessarily inspire violence in young people.

    Preventing Violence In Schools

    • Lenient behavioral policies in schools can often lead to youth violence. This can be prevented, however. It is advisable for schools to adopt campus-wide violence prevention policies to foster an atmosphere of respect and well-being. Often, violence occurs more frequently outside of the classroom in places such as the school bus, cafeteria or playground. For this reason, it's important for the entire school faculty, including the support staff, to be trained in violence prevention. Many youths may assume that faculty members other than teachers will turn a blind eye to violent acts, and it's crucial that policies and rules are understood by both students and staff in order to avoid this.

    Preventing Violence At Home

    • For many young people, patterns of violence begin in the home. Youths who undergo disciplinary measures for violent acts often place the blame on their parents, citing a lack of caring or an excess of control. The same levels of respect fostered at school should be followed in the home to arrive at a consistent balance. Parents who simply don't know how to deal with violent children and teenagers should seek counseling in order to learn techniques for dealing with youth violence. The US Department of Justice provides information designed to help parents and schools prevent violence among youths.

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