The current study seeks to understand the potential benefits of culturally matched cross-age peer mentoring for Black and Latinx adolescent mentors residing in low-income, urban communities. Data for the study were derived from a 4-year longitudinal project examining the effectiveness of community-based cross-age mentoring. Data from the current…

Analyzed data about urban African American youth to explore whether differences in exposure to violence, resilience, and distress symptoms between gang members and nonmembers resulted from risk behaviors in which youths participated or from gang membership itself. Results indicated that gang membership itself related to increased risk and…

Studied how participation in street violence as part of criminal/delinquent behavior relates to violence within dating or marital relationships. Found that subjects were more likely to report use of violence in relationships if they were also participating in violence as part of other criminal behavior. However, half the 141 subjects had not…

To measure the extent of the progress that has been made in the fight against violent crime over the past decade and to get some perspective on the progress that must still be made, this analysis examines the data for one of the most vulnerable groups in the United States, young African American males who reside in eight of the largest U.S.…

This report provides a summary and analysis of national and state juvenile arrest data in the United States. In 1998, law enforcement agencies made an estimated 2.6 million arrests of persons under age 18. Federal Bureau of Investigations statistics indicate that juveniles account for 18% of all arrests, and 17% of all violent crime arrests in…

Recounts an interview with the Hughes brothers, who are twin black men who produced the film "Menace 2 Society," which is a film about urban delinquency and crime among black adolescents. Their comments include thoughts on racism, media stereotyping, being black in America, and their experiences with Hollywood. (GLR)

Informs that black suicide, homicide, violence and accidents are especially likely among the young. Assesses the reliability and validity of data on youthful black suicide; evaluates three conceptual perspectives, i.e., sociological, psychological and ecological; specifies sociocultural factor differences between black male and female suicides;…

Examines social and psychological factors associated with frequency of weapon-carrying by black adolescents living in a community where there is extensive poverty and a high level of violent crime. Weapon carrying was significantly associated with exposure to violence and victimization, age, corporal punishment scale, depression, family conflict,…

This paper examines how young people living in a violent neighbourhood construct understandings about danger, violence and safety. Reporting findings from a qualitative study that investigated these issues with 8-14 year olds in a South African neighbourhood, the paper identifies how young people attempted to stay safe through reliance on adult…

Often Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) programs are based on the assumption that women have control over whether or not intercourse takes place; and, if it takes place whether or not condoms are used. However, those who are in violent relationships may have little or no control over the sexual activity in the relationship. Planned…

This report provides data on minorities in the juvenile justice system. Minority juveniles are significantly over-represented in the juvenile justice system. In 1997, minorities made up about one-third of the juvenile population nationwide but accounted for nearly two-thirds of the detained and committed population in secure juvenile facilities.…

This study examined the relationship of previously determined predictors of general delinquency to violent behavior of African American and Caucasian males in a sample of 3,761. With the exception of family structure, predictors of violence are similar to predictors of general delinquency. (SLD)

Argues that there is no single strategy, institution, or discipline that can create the changes needed to reduce violence in America. Preventing violence requires long-term commitments, a comprehensive set of strategies, and new partnerships combined and focused on prevention of, not responses to, youth violence. (GR)

Examined the influence of gang membership on rates of participation in sexual activity, substance use, and violence among African American adolescent girls. Found that gang members had higher participation rates in all three risk behaviors. (JPB)

Juvenile courts in the United States processed more than 1.5 million delinquency cases in 1994, representing a 5% increase over the 1993 caseload and a 41% increase over the number of cases handled in 1985. These figures are taken from "Juvenile Court Statistics, 1994," the latest in a series of annual reports on cases handled by courts with…