Youth and Violence

Paper Summary:

This paper examines A. Blumstein's article, "Youth, Guns, and Violent Crime", and relates that this article addresses the particular vulnerability and over-representation of youth in crimes involving violence. The paper discusses Blumstein's correlation between youth involved violent crime trends during the 1980s and 1990s, and trends in gun access and drug marketing peaks during these years. Also discussed are the three factors Blumstein sees as the reason for the eventual decline in youth violence since 2000. In addition, the paper looks at the belief held by many criminologists that early exposure to guns and other forms of violence produces violent criminal behaviour throughout life. Lastly, the paper notes that a consistent theme applied in intercepting urban violence is to fortify both the justice system and social development programs.

From the Paper:

"Blumstein (2002) explains the decisions to engage in violence in terms of the form and level of previous exposure an individual has to surrounding violent conditions. He discusses the particular vulnerability and over-representation of youth in crimes involving violence, and attributes current trends of violent crimes to drug addiction, drug market involvement, and increased access and utilization of lethal weapons. He further challenges the concept of "superpredators", a presumed breed of ruthless youth, destined for reckless, violent lifestyles. This breed of predators is argued to be helplessly predisposed to violent acts without hope of intervention (Blumstein, 2002)."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Bingenheimer, J. B., Brennan, R. T., & Earls, F. J. (2005). Firearm violence exposureand serious violent behaviour. Science, 308(5726), 1323-1327.
• Blumstein, A. (2002). Youth, guns, and violent crime. The Future of Children, 12(2), 38-54.
• Brennan-Galvin, E. (2002). Crime and violence in an urbanizing world. Journal of International Affairs, 56(1), 123-147.
• Reich, K., Culross, P. L., & Beherman, R. E. (2002). Children, youth and gun violence:Analysis and recommendations. The Future of Children, 12(2), 4-24.
• Sprinkle, J. E. (2007). Domestic violence, gun ownership, and parental educational attainment: how do they affect the aggressive beliefs and behaviours of children?. Children and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 24(2), 133-152.

More papers on Youth and Violence:

• Analytical Essay # 70475 : "Youth Gun Violence"
• Research Paper # 104171 : "Youth and Violence in the Media"
• Term Paper # 92365 : "Video Games and Violence"

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