NCJ Number
164417
Editor(s)
B Moyers,
J D Moyers
Date Published
1995
Length
0 pages
Annotation
This video addresses the nature and prevalence of domestic violence and the police response to it; the prevalence and possible responses to gun violence, particularly as it affects youth; and the prevalence and impact of media violence on youth.
Abstract
The segment on domestic violence features the work of the Nashville Police Department's (Tennessee) Domestic Violence Unit. A camera follows task force officers in their efforts to arrest alleged spouse abusers. The video also includes comments by victims and the head of the unit, who himself had been exposed to violence in his home as a child. The head of the unit notes that the police policy is "zero tolerance" for violent spouses. They are treated as any other assault suspect, and a strong effort is made to build a case that leads to an effective prosecution. The second segment of the video profiles the devastation of gun violence with statements by families of gunshot victims as well as gunshot victims who have been severely handicapped due to their wounds. Also described is the work of a gunshot victim paralyzed from the waist down as he meets with youth to teach them how to handle conflicts nonviolently. Suggestions are offered by persons committed to various gun control policies, including the recommendation that guns be designed to be child- proof and unable to be used by anyone but the gun owner. Other citizen efforts at gun control are also presented. The final segment of the video focuses on the impact of violent media images on children and youth. The video includes examples of television, movie, music, and video-game violent images that target children and youth because such images make money. One commentator advises that children learn from observing and imitating such images. Finally, suggestions are offered for protecting children from media violent images.