NEWS & VIEWS
Reports
Rationalizing the Crime Decline
There are 2.3 million people behind bars in the United States. But a report from the Brennan Center for Justice says incarceration and decreased crime don't go hand in hand. "At today's high incarceration rates," write the authors, "continuing to incarcerate more people has almost no effect on reducing crime." Their findings question whether the economic and societal toll of mass imprisonment is worthwhile, and look to a blending of law, economics, science, criminology, and public policy analysis to address challenges such as poverty, unemployment, and inequality.
Strategies for Preventing Youth Violence
Among the most successful and emerging approaches to youth violence prevention, there are shared elements. School-based prevention programs, which help youths develop skills to avoid violence and resolve disputes peacefully, are most widely utilized. The effectiveness of school programs transcends socioeconomic status, crime rates, and ethnicity, and in a systematic review of 53 studies, there was an average reduction in violent behavior of 15 percent. Parenting and family-focused strategies that teach communication, problem solving, monitoring, and behavior management skills have also been extensively studied, while economic, policy, and violence prevention strategies addressing community-level factors are beginning to emerge.
Young Offenders and Victims
Juvenile Offenders and Victims: 2014 National Report is the fourth edition of a comprehensive report on juvenile crime, victimization, and the juvenile justice system. This publication offers perspective on the lives of young offenders and victims, and looks at key demographic, economic, and sociological statistics to address the needs of those involved with the justice system.
News
Youth Violence Prevention Summit: Save the Date
The Fourth National Summit on Youth Violence Prevention will be held May 11–13, 2015, at a site in the Washington, D.C., area to be determined. The Summit will provide opportunities for representatives from National Forum, Defending Childhood Initiative, and Community-Based Violence Prevention program cities to learn about new strategies for youth violence prevention, to share their experiences of what works in their communities, and to recommit themselves to the task of creating safe communities where youth and families can thrive. Representatives from the international community, officials from foundations and philanthropies, and others interested in moving our work forward will also attend. More details are forthcoming.
National Youth Violence Prevention Week
From March 23 to 27, 2015, the country celebrated National Youth Violence Prevention Week—a time to promote positive youth behavior, interaction, engagement, and development. This year's themes encouraged peaceful conflict resolution, anger management, respect and tolerance, and efforts supporting safety.
University of Chicago to Fund Anti-Youth-Violence Strategy
The University of Chicago Crime Lab, MacArthur Foundation, and Get In Chicago will support an antiviolence effort with $1 million in funding. Their collective goal is to find programs that will improve the lives of Chicago's youth, with the winning entrant undergoing scientific evaluation to build an evidence base. In the past, this type of rigorous testing has helped expand violence-reduction programs.
Other Resources
Youth Trafficking Infographic
Sexual exploitation and trafficking of minors are two of the most overlooked forms of child abuse in the United States. Although cases have been reported in all 50 states, many people who work with and care for youths on a daily basis fail to see these crimes in their own communities. But there are various areas where the signs can be recognized, including schools, law enforcement, health care, and victim services.
Helping Law Enforcement Understand Adolescent Behavior
According to the Department of Justice, between 4 million and 5 million youths ages 16–19 have face-to-face interactions with police each year. Law enforcement must have an effective and appropriate strategy for interacting with youth, and better understanding adolescent development is the first step. "The Effects of Adolescent Development on Policing" provides an overview of adolescent behavioral development, recommendations for developmentally appropriate responses, strategies to improve police–youth interaction, and programs that support positive youth development.
Working With Youth in Correctional Facilities
The Desktop Guide to Quality Practice for Working With Youth in Confinement describes promising and effective practices for juvenile detention and corrections personnel. Part 1 discusses the principles, concepts, and knowledge within juvenile justice and services for systems-involved youth. Part 2 identifies quality practice, including the skills needed to effectively serve youths in confinement.
Models Make for More Successful Programs
Two new Logic Model Builders designed by the Child Welfare Information Gateway aim to help programs define their goals, outcomes, and measures of success—specifically in the prevention of child abuse and neglect and provision of family support and postadoption services.
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