This document contains testimony from a Senate hearing examining causes of and solutions to the problem of juvenile firesetting. In an opening statement, Chairman Specter testified that arson has the highest percentage of juvenile involvement with 38 percent of arson crimes committed by juveniles. Pamela McLaughlin of the National Firehawk…

This document contains witness testimonies and prepared statements from the Congressional hearing called to examine the plight of child victims of exploitation. The opening statement by Congresswoman Boggs outlines federal legislation and Congressional action regarding the exploitation of children. Representative McCain discusses legislation he…

This monograph reviews research on the influence of family life on juvenile delinquency and adult crime. Families are strong socializing forces. Parents teach children to control their behavior and respect others' rights; however, parents can also teach aggressive, antisocial, and violent behavior. Research shows that children with parents who are…

This report, an examination of the administration of the federal Juvenile Justice Act from 1974 to the present, outlines the findings and recommendations of the National Advisory Committee for Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Following a statement of the proposed new direction in delinquency prevention, which focuses on the serious,…

Data show that gangs, drugs, and random murders are becoming staples in the lives of U.S. children. Every major U.S. city is facing a deadly gang problem, exemplified by drive-by shootings and teenagers brandishing assault weapons. This document presents witness testimony, prepared statements, and panel discussions that examine the problem of gang…

A benefit-cost analysis of the Job Corps program compared groups randomly assigned to either enroll in the program or to constitute a control group that did not enroll. Youth who participated in the study were those found eligible for Job Corps nationwide between November 1994 and February 1996. Interviews with participants and the assignment of…

A study involving random assignment of all youth eligible for Job Corps to either a Job Corps program or to a control group was conducted to assess the impact of Job Corps on key participant outcomes. Participants in the study were nationwide youth eligible for Job Corps who applied for enrollment for the first time between November 16, 1994, and…

Based on findings that high-quality early care and education, youth development programs for after-school and summer hours, child abuse and neglect prevention, and intervention programs can help to prevent violence crime, this document presents a violence prevention plan for the schools and youth of Pennsylvania. Four actions are proposed to…

The Comprehensive Youth Services Act (CYSA), which was enacted in 1997 to fund juvenile probation services, had the following three basic goals: (1) keep probation youths from further crime; (2) help probation and at-risk youths develop essential skills to avoid dependence on public assistance; and (3) help achieve overarching federal Temporary…