Although overall crime rates have remained stable or even declined during the 1990's, random violence and youth violence have increased. Many criminologists have explored and debated the impact of environment on violent behavior and criminal responsibility, and criminological thought has progressed from the classical school of criminology to the positive school of criminology. Biological, psychological, and sociological theories have emerged to explain criminal behavior. A recent shift in criminal justice philosophy has occurred that shifts the blame from the individual to society itself. Conflict theory is the basis of the new criminology which encompasses conflict, critical, and radical criminology. With regard to violence prevention, many States have developed legislation to respond to the increase in random violence and youth violence. Other crime control efforts center around correctional issues, particularly the phenomenon of escalating prison violence. High levels of violence in the United States have caused widespread fear, and fear of violence is sometimes used as the basis for policy decisions. Future directions in violence prevention will depend on how the criminal justice system uses advanced technology. 24 references