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New Study Finds Delinquent Youths More Likely to Suffer Violent Deaths Linda Teplin, professor of psychiatry at Northwestern University and the study’s lead author, says the statistics her team uncovered on youth in the Cook County, Illinois, juvenile detention system are a sad statement on the violence many poor and minority children confront. Teplin said that the 52 children who died in school shootings in the country between 1990 and 2000 got far more attention than the far greater number of suicides involving inner city youth. In New York City alone there were 840 homicides of kids 14 to 17 during the same time period.
The study tracked 1,829 youths ages 10 to 19 that had been held at the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center over a period of eight years. They found that: As of March 2004, 65 had died between the ages of 15 and 24. Almost all the deaths were violent and involved guns (more than 90% of deaths were from gunshot wounds). The overall death rate was four times that among other youths the same age. One startling finding from the study is that delinquent girls are eight times more likely to die than girls in the general population.
++++++++ National Crime Victims’ Rights Week April 10-16, 2005 At the link above you will find resources, information and events associated with National Crime Victim’s Right Week. The theme this year is Justice Isn’t Service Until Crime Victims Are. The 2005 Resource Guide is available for ordering online at this site. ++++++++++ Community boards focus on accountability and restitution An article in the Boston Globe describes programs attempting to use community pressure to control crime in their neighborhoods. These programs are called community accountability boards when adults are involved, juvenile conference committees when kids are involved, as well as other designations. All of them give the authority to the community to hold offenders accountable and give the victims a voice. Vermont has created 62 boards in 43 towns. The boards have handled 1,421 cases in the past decade. ++++++++++ Repairing the Harm: A New Vision for Crime Victim Compensation in America The National Center for Victims of Crime has released a new report on crime victim compensation. The report Documents the rates, consequences, and costs of crime. Outlines key elements and identifies shortcomings of our current system of crime victim compensation. Reviews lessons from the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund, and Offers a new vision for crime victim compensation in America.
63 page pdf file. ++++++++++ Violence Against Women: Identifying Risk Factors This Research in Brief is based on results from two studies funded by NIJ to identify factors that could predict which women were most likely to become victims of sexual or physical violence. One study examined victimization and perpetration of violence among college students. The second analyzed interview data from women with contemporaneously documented histories of child sexual abuse and those with no documented abuse. Neither of these two reports has been published, but each is available online at NCJRS. See article for links. ++++++++++ A Web Site on How to Handle Stalking and Other Forms of Intrusive Contact Help for those who are coping with stalking or other intrusive contacts. It contains information on how to set limits, how to remain safe, getting help from family and friends, and information for parents, friends, teachers, counselors, etc. Intrusive Contact is defined as at least 2 weeks of unwanted contact after a relationship that had lasted at least one month. The information on the site was written by the director of the Department of Human Development at Cornell University. ++++++++++ Stalking Resource Center The National Center for Victims of Crime maintains this web site. Its resources include recent laws to protect immigrant stalking, an information clearinghouse, and a downloadable handbook. Stalking: A Handbook for Victims can be downloaded at the site. The handbook is 72 pages packed with valuable information and resources. Pdf file. ++++++++++ Victims of Violent Juvenile Crime New Juvenile Justice Bulletin shows that 19% of the victims of nonfatal violent crimes were victimized by a juvenile offender – either a juvenile acting alone, multiple juveniles, or juvenile and adult offenders acting together. Most of the victims (95%) of sexual assaults committed by juveniles were younger than 18, as were 43% of victims of robberies by juveniles, 53% of aggravated assaults, and 61% of simple assaults. 8 page pdf file. ++++++++++ Our Vulnerable Teenagers: Their Victimization, Its Consequences, and Directions for Prevention and Intervention The National Council on Crime and Delinquency and the National Center for Victims of Crime joined together to create a national network of service providers to meet the needs of young people victimized by crime. This report launches the Teen Victim Project, a project to raise national awareness about the incidence and impact of crimes against teenagers and to help those who have been victimized. The report reviews research and data on teen victimization and how it impacts American youth. About 30 pages. PDF file. ++++++++++Trauma Among Youth in the Juvenile Justice System The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSNet) has just published four new fact sheets on youth in the juvenile justice system. They are: The fact sheets are the work of the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, the Yale/UConn Center for Children Exposed to Violence, and the Juvenile Justice Working Group. ++++++++++ Outreach to New Americans This project of the National Crime Prevention Council provides training and technical assistance at little or no cost. The project promotes partnerships between refugee communities and law enforcement agencies to address the problem of crime and crime victimization in refugee communities. ++++++++++ Youth Victimization: Prevalence and Implications This National Institute of Justice Research in Brief reports on a national survey of adolescents to examine the prevalence of sexual assault, physical assault, physically abusive punishment, and witnessing an act of violence and subsequent effects on mental health, substance use, and delinquent behavior problems. The researchers found that the rates of interpersonal violence and victimization of 12-to 17-year olds in the United States are extremely high and witnessing violence is common. Findings from the report: - Black and Native American adolescents were victimized more than whites, Hispanics, and Asians in each type of victimization.
- Much of the violence experienced by youths is perpetrated by peers or someone the victim knows well.
- Most sexual assaults (86%) and physical assaults (65%) went unreported.
The study also found that a clear relationship exists between youth victimization and delinquent behavior: - Negative outcomes in victims of sexual assault were three to five times the rates observed in nonvictims.
- Girls who witnessed violence were nearly twice as likely as boys to experience posttraumatic stress disorder.
++++++++++ From the Office of Victims of Crime: The Restorative Justice and Mediation Collection This web page provides links to these victim-sensitive restorative justice programs: - Guidelines for Victim-Sensitive Victim-Offender Mediation: Restorative Justice Through Dialogue
- Family Group Conferencing: Implications for Crime Victims
- Multicultural Implications of Restorative Justice: Potential Pitfalls and Dangers
- Directory of Victim-Offender Mediation Programs in the United States
- National Survey of Victim-Offender Mediation Programs the United States
All five are downloadable. ++++++++++ Reactions and Guidelines for Children Following Trauma/Disaster The APA Help Center's Psychology in Daily Life contains a very nice set of guidelines and checklists for parents, caregivers, teachers on possible reactions of children in elementary school, middle school, and high school to trauma and disaster. +++++++++++ Sexual Assault and Rape From the Office of Victims of Crime, this page contains information on rights and services provided to victims of sexual assault and rape. ++++++++++ Victim Impact Panels This week I answered a question about victim impact panels (VIPs). I sent the person who asked NCJFCJ’s How to be Victim Friendly in Juvenile Court brochure and information about The Juvenile Court Response to Victims of Juvenile Offenders, a 400 page curriculum with 17 lesson plans, overheads, and appendices – including information on VIPs. If you’re interested in the materials we have available, send me an email and we’ll talk. I also did an internet search, pulled out web information and forwarded it along. Here is some of the information I found on the internet: A How To Guide for Victim Impact Panels – Probably THE definitive document on this subject. Originally published by MADD and has since been revised and reprinted four times by NHTSA. Victim Impact Statement Resource Package – Guidelines for courts and correctional agencies. Twelve pages of practical advice, forms and help to the victim in completing a statement. If you don’t want information at the detailed level of the How To Guide above, this is a good short guide to the subject.
Barron County Restorative Justice Programs – From Barron County , Wis. , these pages: VIP Volunteer Program Description About Victim Impact Panels Preparation Tips for Victim Speakers VIP Forms and Letters ++++++++++ Safe Harbor: A School-Based Victim Assistance/Violence Prevention Program The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) latest bulletin profiles Safe Harbor, a victim assistance and violence prevention program developed by Safe Horizon in New York City. The Safe Harbor Program has been replicated in ten school sites around the country and evaluated over four years. At this web location you can read and download the OVC Bulletin on the subject and review associated information of interest. The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) latest bulletin profiles Safe Harbor, a victim assistance and violence prevention program developed by Safe Horizon in New York City. . At this web location you can read and download the OVC Bulletin on the subject and review associated information of interest. The Safe Harbor Program has five components: A victim assistance/violence prevention curriculum of 10 core lessons; Individual and group counseling for victimized youth; Parent involvement and staff training enhancing students’ relationships with adults in their lives; Structured group activities that include focused group discussion and skill-building sessions to promote peer relationships; and A schoolwide antiviolence campaign that aims to build a cohesive school culture of nonviolence. - ++++++++++
Trends in Juvenile Violent Offending: An Analysis of Victim Survey Data This Bulletin offers information on trends in juvenile violent offending over the past two decades. It deals, however, with the victims of these offenses. Information from the National Crime Victimization Survey is featured. 20 pages. This Bulletin offers information . It deals, however, with the . Information from the National Crime Victimization Survey is featured. 20 pages. Violent Victimization as a Risk Factor for Violent Offending Among Juveniles When compared with adults, juveniles are disproportionately affected by high rates of violence as both offenders and victims. The authors of this Bulletin examined data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health to find that victims of violence were significantly more likely than nonvictims to become violent offenders. They also found that violent victimization and violent offending share many of the same risk factors. These findings are particularly important because they suggest that interventions directed at preventing victimization could also reduce offending, and vice versa. 12 pages. When compared with adults, . The authors of this Bulletin examined data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health to find that . They also found that . These findings are particularly important because they suggest that . 12 pages. ++++++++++ OVC’s Legal Series Bulletins The Office for Victims of Crime has thus far published a series of eight bulletins that provide a digest of issues affecting crime victims. The series is designed to be an informational resource for victims, victim advocates, victim service providers, criminal justice professionals, and policymakers. Here are links to two of the bulletins: The Office for Victims of Crime has thus far that provide a digest of issues affecting crime victims. The series is designed to be an . Here are links to two of the bulletins:++++++++++ First Response to Victims of Crime Who Have a Disability This new manual from OVC (Office of Victims of Crime) is intended for first responders to victims of crime who have a disability. It is intended to be of assistance to law enforcement officers responding to victims who have Alzheimer’s disease, mental illness, mental retardation, or who are blind or visually impaired, deaf or hard of hearing. Downloadable by section (it is apparently quite a lengthy document). This new manual from OVC (Office of Victims of Crime) is intended for first responders to victims of crime who have a disability. It is intended to be of assistance to law enforcement officers or who are Downloadable by section (it is apparently quite a lengthy document). Here’s a sample section from the manual. Section I: Basic Guidelines on First Response to Victims of Crime Who Have a Disability ++++++++++ OVC Help Series Brochures This series of ten brochures describes crime facts, the victim’s experience, and how to seek help. The pdf version of the brochures comes off your computer ready to print and use. Take a look at two of the brochures here: ++++++++++ Short- and Long-Term Consequences of Adolescent Victimization A Youth Violence Research Bulletin from OJJDP and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this report presents the latest research findings on youth violence, including gangs, firearms, suicide prevention, and the impact of violence on youth. Written in a style accessible to all readers. Emphasizes the public health benefits of reducing violence among youth and within families. 16 pages. Downloadable pdf file. ++++++++++ OVC Publications Office of Victims of Crimes Legal Series Bulletins - Each bulletin is designed to inform victim advocates and victim service providers about various legal issues relating to crime victims. Each highlights existing legislation, important court decisions incases in which courts have addressed the issues, current trends. |
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