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Gun Violence Among Serious Young Offenders

NCJ Number
247003
Author(s)
Anthony A. Braga
Date Published
May 2012
Length
60 pages
Annotation
In addressing gun violence by serious young offenders, this guide describes the problem, reviews the risk factors for it, presents questions that should be answered in an analysis of a local problem, and reviews responses to the problem.
Abstract
An analysis of the problem of gun violence among serious young offenders includes a review of related problems, which include gangs, youth drug dealing and drug use, the availability of guns, assaults in and around bars, and truancy. Factors that contribute to gun violence among serious young offenders are involvement in previous offenses, feuding gangs and criminally active groups, and the concentration of such crimes in certain neighborhoods. The guide then notes that having general information about gun violence among young offenders is not sufficient for an effective response to it. An analysis of the local problem should combine official data with street-level knowledge, the experiences, observations, and historical perspectives of police officers, street workers, and others in routine contact with offenders, communities, and criminal networks. Collecting data through interviews and focus groups can help refine practitioner knowledge. The guide poses questions that should be answered in a local analysis of gun violence by young offenders. The questions pertain to the characteristics of gun-shot victims and perpetrators of gun shootings, gangs and criminally active groups, and locations and times of gun shootings. The guide then focuses on the importance and features of measuring the effectiveness of responses to youth gun violence. Criteria of effectiveness are outlined. This is followed by descriptions of responses to gun violence by serious young offenders. The proposed responses are categorized as being offender-oriented or place-oriented. Responses with limited effectiveness are noted. 2 figures, 53 notes, 50 references, and appended summary of responses to youth gun violence