NCJ Number
188020
Date Published
April 2000
Length
81 pages
Annotation
This report presents the findings and recommendations from nationwide listening conferences, in which youth, parents, teachers, and school administrators commented on the causes and remedies for violent behavior in the school environment.
Abstract
In the listening conferences, which were sponsored by the National Association of Attorneys General, students from across the country overwhelmingly attributed the primary cause of youth violence to the home environment. The second most frequent cause of youth violence was attributed to the way students treat each other, as they cited bullying, "dissing" (disrespecting), harassing, and isolating students as major contributors to violent reactions by victims of such treatment. Parents, teachers, and administrators generally confirmed the students' observations. The report recommends steps that can be taken by parents, youth, schools, communities of faith, and others to help prevent youth violence. Parents are provided guidance for how to raise children who respect others and refrain from violent behavior. Youth are provided guidelines for behavior that is accepting of those different from themselves and that promotes harmony rather than conflict. School administrators are provided guidelines for policies, training, and management styles that foster the prevention of, early intervention for, and prompt and appropriate responses to violence at school. Community organizations are provided guidance for the provision of resources to youth that promote positive development, as well as resources for parents in the raising of their children. Recommendations are also offered for agencies of the justice system. The concluding section of the report describes State-by-State the efforts that attorneys general are already making to curb youth violence.