Children who are exposed to violence often have difficulty focusing on school work or engaging in other activities that should be treasured experiences of childhood. In addition, research suggests chronic exposure to violence can have serious developmental consequences for children, including psychological disorders, grief and loss reactions, impaired intellectual development and school problems, truncated moral development, pathological adaptation to violence, and identification with the aggressor. Specific risk factors for youth violence and implications for intervention programs are discussed. Dimensions of youth violence are described that pertain to demographic characteristics and predictors of criminal behavior. Strategies and programs to prevent youth violence are considered, with emphasis on what can be done at the State level. 3 tables and 5 figures