The subjects had been exposed to violence in their community through their association with directly exposed acquaintances, witnessing violent acts, or direct experience as a victim or perpetrator of violence. However, contrary to the study's hypothesis, the participants' overall level of hope was comparable to that of other groups. Adolescents who had witnessed violence around them but had less personal or direct experience with it reported the highest level of hope. They predicted their own violent or nonviolent deaths with equal probability, but overwhelmingly predicted that the average American would die a violent death. The participants' frequent prediction that the average American will die a violent death indicates a perception that violence is not limited to their own environment; they may perceive life in a violent environment as the overall norm. The high level of hope in this population is an encouraging sign of a positive attitude about the future, despite being raised in a culture of violence and facing the prospect of a violent death. Note, tables, references