NCJ Number
137678
Date Published
1992
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This statement before the U.S. Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs addresses the scope of violence by youth, the characteristics of youth at risk of committing serious crime, promising early intervention strategies, and current Federal funding to prevent juvenile delinquency and violence.
Abstract
The youth arrest rate for murder, manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault increased 16 percent nationwide between 1989 and 1990. Many violent adolescents have similar characteristics, such as having come from families that are abusive, neglectful, and otherwise dysfunctional; having a propensity to lie, steal, be truant, and be aggressive; using alcohol and drugs; and living in low-income areas with high crime rates. The long-term prevention of youth violence requires a multifaceted strategy that includes reduction in multiple risks, intervention for children of various ages, provision of early prevention and treatment services, and strategies based on particular communities' problems. Two promising prevention strategies are home visiting and school-based services. Federal programs to prevent delinquency are funded by 17 agencies within 7 Federal departments and an independent agency. There are 260 Federal programs that spend approximately $4.2 billion to serve delinquent and at-risk youth. Most of this funding is for job training and vocational education. For the most part, funds do not directly target the prevention of youth violence. 3 figures