NCJ Number
176193
Date Published
1996
Length
78 pages
Annotation
Empirical data and theories that have emerged to document and explain ethnic, racial, and class differences in the rate of adolescent involvement in interpersonal violence are critically reviewed, with emphasis on the implications for policymaking and program design.
Abstract
The analysis notes three areas of disagreement: (1) questions regarding the adequacy and sufficiency of the proof that ethnic and racial groups differ in rates of actual as opposed to reported involvement in interpersonal violence, (2) debate over the precise nature of the causal link between race or ethnicity and interpersonal violence, and (3) disagreement over what can be done to reduce existing disparities. The analysis concludes that public, governmental, and academic discourse needs to include informative dialogue on the causes of the group disparities. In addition, prevention strategies must be both age-specific and aimed at altering the more general causal and etiological risk factors; attempts to change known causal factors will be unsuccessful if based on misunderstanding, ignorance, or understatement of the importance of economic inequality. Finally, only policies that aim for long-term changes in levels of economic, political, and social inequality will substantially reduce current levels of ethnic, racial, and class disparities in rates of adolescent violence. Tables, notes, and approximately 200 references