NCJ Number
181732
Date Published
Agencies
NIJ
Publication Series
Publication Type
Article
Annotation
This article is an adaptation of the author's statement to the
U.S. House of Representatives' Bipartisan Working Group on Youth
Violence (September 15, 1999); the focus of the statement is on
issues concerning the role of parents and families in the genesis
and prevention of youth violence.
Abstract
The author first corrects a common misperception, i.e., that
youth violence is increasing. Data show that the juvenile
homicide arrest rate has declined steadily and dramatically since
1993, along with violent crime among all age groups. He also
notes the overwhelming evidence that the availability of guns is
the single most important factor that distinguishes youth
violence in America from youth violence in other parts of the
world. The author then proceeds to his primary subject, which is
the role of the family in fostering and preventing delinquency.
Domestic violence is cited as a primary factor in the development
of violent behaviors by youth raised in such homes. Also, many
violent youth come from families in which parents are negligent
or disengaged from their child-rearing responsibilities. Thus,
exposure to violence or abuse in the home, exposure to hostile
and punitive parenting, or growing up in a home environment in
which parents are not sufficiently involved in their child's life
are among the most important risk factors for the child's
subsequent involvement in violent and other types of antisocial
behavior. Pathways through which the family impacts behaviors of
children are through modeling, biological/genetic factors, mental
health problems, parenting and personality development, academic
performance, and peer pressure. The author also discusses the
causes of negative parenting, the role of popular culture, and
strategies needed to reduce youth violence. The latter involve
the development of programs that can impact parenting behavior in
a positive way. 4 notes
Date Created: November 2, 2010