Volume contributors define violence as behaviors by individuals that intentionally threaten, attempt, or inflict physical harm on others. They emphasize that the potential for violence varies according to geographic locality and in terms of social and psychological pressures that can lead to violent behavior. In addition, contributors specifically look at whether the United States is more violent than other societies, who is at greatest risk of violent victimization and death, consequences of violent crimes, who perpetrates violence, and the effect of increasing the prison population on violent crime levels. Individual potentials for violent behavior are identified that focus on psychosocial factors, aggressive behavior in childhood, sexual violence, violence in families, and biological factors (genetic influences and neurobiological processes). The discussion of social processes and violent crime encompasses community characteristics, socioeconomic structures and organization, and gangs. The role of alcohol, other psychoactive drugs, and firearms in violence is also examined. Several strategies to understand, control, and prevent violent behavior are offered. Appendixes provide supplemental information on individual potentials for violence and effects of violent crime. References, tables, and figures