AN INVESTIGATION OF YOUTH VIOLENCE & OTHER CRIMINAL BEHAVIORS BY YOUNG PEOPLE
1 - INTRODUCTION .............................. 1
Statement of the Problem .................. 1
Purpose of the Study ...................... 1
Method .................................... 2
Structure of the Study .................... 2
2 - TRENDS IN CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR ............... 3
Trends in Juvenile Crime .................. 3
Causal Attributions ....................... 5
3 - EXPLANATIONS: AN ANALYSIS ................. 9
Conflict Theory ........................... 9
Labeling Theory ........................... 9
Interactionist Paradigm ................... 10
Criminal Motivation and Opportunity ....... 12
Role of Gangs ............................. 13
Role of Adolescence ....................... 17
Role of Substance Abuse ................... 19
Role of Desensitization ................... 20
Role of Guns .............................. 21
Understanding Criminal Behavior ........... 23
4 - POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS ....................... 24
School-Based Solutions .................... 24
Other Solutions ........................... 27
5 - SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS ................... 28
ENDNOTES ........................................... 34
BIBLIOGRAPHY ....................................... 38
America today is experiencing a major epidemic of death and trauma from violence. Homicide has become the 10th leading cause of death in the United States and the 6th leading cause of years of potential life lost. Among young people 15 to 24 years of age, homicide is the second leading cause of death, surpassed only by unintentional injuries. Furthermore, the homicide r...