NCJ Number
234062
Date Published
September 2010
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This report discusses an approach that identifies and deconstructs root causes of violence and the predictability of violence on a community or population wide level.
Abstract
Findings suggest that law enforcement and criminal justice agencies should work in partner-ship with health agencies to identify a shared violence prevention agenda, common values, and a single vision. The public health focus draws upon knowledge from many disciplines, including medicine, epidemiology, sociology, psychology, criminology, education and economics. The public health field has been able to be innovative and responsive to a wide range of diseases, illnesses and problem behaviors around the world while emphasizing collective action. The public health approach comprises of four key steps: first uncover as much basic knowledge as possible about all the aspects of violence through systematically collecting data on the magnitude, scope, characteristics, and consequences of violence at local, national, and international levels. Second, conduct research to determine the causes and correlates of violence, the factors that increase or decrease the risk for violence: the factors that might be modifiable through interventions. Third, explore ways to prevent violence by designing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating interventions. Fourth, implement interventions that appear promising, widely disseminating information while determining the cost-effectiveness of the programs. Further research is needed to hone violence prevention, develop and evaluate new interventions, and define priorities for action.