Violence in America: Causes and solutions

Violence in America impacts virtually all groups, but at different rates. Among African Americans and American Indians, violence is a major cause of death between the ages of 15-24. These problems were exacerbated during certain periods in our history, such as the 80's and early 90's. Suicide tends to be more common among Native Americans, including Native American girls and women.

In 2000, following the Columbine shootings, both the President and Congress requested the Surgeon General develop a report on youth violence prevention. That report examined most of the studies and programs conducted in an attempt to reduce, and ultimately prevent, violence, including homicide. In the 90's, there was a decline in homicides and violence among young people between the ages of 15-24, among all races. Contrary to popular opinions, when it came to violent crime, all groups were involved with violent crime, at an almost equal rate.

The programs that have been shown to be somewhat effective at reducing homicides among different groups in America involve targeting the social circumstances in which children develop, providing them with the hope that they can change their circumstances and overcome barriers, including barriers to staying in school and pursuing an education. Clearly, for children who drop out of school, there's a dramatic increase in violence and homicide, as well as incarceration.

This presentation will help enlighten us about the issues related to violence in America, demonstrate ways we can target such violence, and introduce programs that have been shown to be effective.