Unraveling the Social Influences Behind Youth Violence in the United States: Strategies to Effectively Combat the Issue
Author’s Note:
This paper, Unraveling the Social Influences Behind Youth Violence in the United States: Strategies to Effectively Combat the Issue, was written in 2023 as the final assignment for SPH 198: Study in Community & International Health — Ethics and the Contemporary Health Sciences. The project required selecting a contemporary ethical problem in the health sciences, analyzing its complexities, and identifying potential solutions. I chose youth violence because it represents both a significant public health crisis and an ethical challenge rooted in systemic inequities. This report aims to highlight the social determinants that shape violent behavior, examine populations disproportionately affected, and explore practical interventions that can foster safer and healthier communities.
Background
From the moment you are born, you inherit a series of advantages and, in some cases, substantial disadvantages. This is at the hands of a public health concept known as the social determinants of health. These determinants highlight the impact that economic stability, education and health care access and quality, neighborhood and built environment, and the social and community context have on our health and life outcomes (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2020). Many of these factors are well-established generational cycles that go far beyond the control of the individual. Youth community violence in the United States is a prime example of a public health issue that is heavily influenced by a youth’s social determinants of health. There are ways to actively combat youth violence by taking a deeper look at the violence occurring within communities and what intervention methods can be implemented. Throughout this analysis, contributing factors to violent behaviors will be examined, such as childhood experiences, social factors, and the impact of having access to positive role models has on youth. Data collected across the United Stated on youth violence shows that this is an issue, and one that disproportionately affects certain demographics, which is a key detail to consider when designing effective interventions. The goal of this review is not to present one solution, but to instead paint a better picture of the realities faced by those affected by youth violence. This will open discussion for what interventions could be implemented before a child even starts elementary school, to what can be done for youth who may already have a criminal history. The objective is to shed light on the importance of ensuring that all youth have equal access to a strong support system that provides them with the proper resources to develop strong self-efficacy to pursue a life outside of what they may have been simply born into.
What is Youth Violence?
Every day, an alarming number of approximately 12 young lives are tragically lost to homicide, while an estimated 1,400 others seek medical attention in emergency departments for nonfatal assault injuries in the United States (David-Ferdon et al., 2016). This is at the hands of youth violence, which is defined as the deliberate use of physical force with the intention to hurt others by those 10-24 years old (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022). It is important to note that for this analysis youth will be defined as those 10-24 in alignment with the United Nations definition of youth (United Nations, 2023). When considering the ways that youth engage with violence, it is apparent that they can contribute in many different ways. This can be as someone simply observing an act of violence, commiting the act themselves, or being the victim to violent behaviors (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022). No matter the role played, the impact of this violence directly influences their future. Youth violence is a multifaceted issue that does not have a simple solution or a specific cause. Those who work with youth to prevent violence must analyze each community in their own context and individual to truly provide proper support and determine each community’s specific needs. Community leaders should conduct a needs assessment to determine what gaps exist as well as identify any existing community resources that can be used to target youth violence. Some examples of potential gaps include safe and reliable transportation, food insecurity, or even affordable extracurricular activities (David-Ferdon et al., 2016). When looking to design intervention programs it is important to not only understand what youth violence is, but also have an accurate understanding of who is affected and what the leading contributing factors are.
Disproportionately Affected:
When studying those most affected by youth violence, it quickly becomes apparent that certain populations are disproportionately affected by high rates of youth and community violence. A good starting point is to consider the meaning of “at-risk youth”, a term used to encompass many factors that may hinder a young person from excelling socially, academically, or in any other aspect of life. Those who are at-risk are more likely to fall into harmful lifestyles and struggle with mental health and overall well-being (David-Ferdon et al., 2016). There are many ways to determine what makes a youth at-risk. Most definitions encompass economic factors, highlighting being from a low-income community as a leading cause. Other definitions highlight family education level or social environment factors (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020a). When analyzing these characteristics, it is crucial to recognize that due to systemic racism, bias, and a lack of resources, many individuals identified as 'at-risk youth' belong to underrepresented minority communities. Data shows that African American, American Indian, and Alaskan Native, and Hispanic or Latino individuals experience the highest homicide rates compared to other demographic groups (Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 2022). Youth violence is not a new concern and has been highlighted in research since the 1980s due to a perceived spike in violent behavior across the United States (Butts & Travis, 2002). It was believed in the 90s that there was a new breed of youth known as “Super-Predators”.
This inaccurate theory and violent crime projection was published in 1995 by John J. DiluLio. He presented a concept known as Moral Poverty: “the poverty of being without loving, capable, responsible adults who teach you right from wrong. It is the poverty of being without parents and other authorities who habituate you to feel joy at others’ joy, pain at others’ pain, happiness when you do right, remorse when you do wrong…In the extreme, moral poverty is the poverty of growing up surrounded by deviant, delinquent, and criminal adults in abusive, violence-ridden, fatherless, Godless, and jobless settings'' (DiLulio, 1995). He believes that youth are destined for a life of violence, and no intervention would be enough. In DiLulio’s eyes, the youth he is assessing are immoral and destined for failure based on his beliefs and standards (DiLulio, 1995). He argues that these teens are emotionless and kill to kill without any reason or remorse. DiLulio does admit that intervention could be beneficial, suggesting religious institutions, but that these programs would not have any real tangible impact. Readers across the nation took DiLulio’s work as fact and started to fear this inaccurate idea of the “super-predator”. Government leaders took this as enough evidence to heavily police and incarcerate youth.
DiLulio’s work was unclear and made many accusations on the character of violent youth, as well as stated opinions as fact. The assumptions and hypothetical projected statistics presented were inaccurate and led people to believe that these “super-predators’' were nothing more than worthless criminals that needed to be regulated. This belief was carried out for decades, fueling stereotypes and increasing unethical treatment and incarceration of youth throughout the United States. DiLulio’s work had a detrimental effect, one that has continued to be debunked in an effort to undo unimaginable damage. DiLulio has admitted fault many times since then but most notably in the Supreme court ruling Miller v. Alabama in 2012. Alongside many other notable criminologist, DiLulio took accountability for the myth he disseminated throughout society that “contributed to the dismantling of transfer restrictions, the lowering of the minimum age for adult prosecution of children, and it threw thousands of children into an ill-suited and excessive punishment regime”(Of et al., 2012). The persistent existence of this false narrative continues to hinder genuine progress and poses a significant obstacle to bringing about real change.
Presumed Violence Motivators:
Unlike the presumed motivators believed by some, youth are not “super-predators”. Violent youth are no different than those who do not display violent tendencies. Social environment, lack of access to essential resources, and proper social and emotional support have been shown to contribute to high rates of violence (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020a). This issue is often generational and seems to be a way of life that is inherited. Research has shown that children raised in violent environments are more likely to later participate in violent acts. The U.S. Department of Justice published an article in 1997 that emphasizes this, and it still remains true today. This publication, Environmental Factors Contribute to Juvenile Crime and Violence, emphasized that violence is learned (Elliott, 1997). If a child is exposed to violence or physical abuse during their childhood, their chances of participating in violent acts increases by 40% (Elliott, 1997). On the other hand, even if there is no violence in the home but instead lack of emotional support or parental figure, they are still put at a major disadvantage, and this can lead to more violent behavior (Elliott, 1997). In reality, a young person's environment can taint their own perception of right from wrong and can potentially lead them to participate in violent behaviors, as there is simply no other option presented to them. Knowing that many of the factors leading to youth violence can be positively mitigated, it is crucial to understand the acts of violence being committed to find effective intervention methods.
Facets of Violence:
In order to fully understand youth violence, we must examine some of the leading acts of violence committed by youth today. Studies analyzing the Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System have found that in the United States, the leading cause of death and non-fatal injuries is homicide for non-Hispanic Black or African American and Hispanic youth (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020b). Knowing this extreme statistic, one would think there would be more information on this issue. Even though this has such a high prevalence, most of these acts of violence are occurring in certain neighborhoods and cities at a disproportionate rate. It is important to emphasize that these neighborhoods are plagued with higher rates of violence due to systemic barriers and many other reasons outside of their control.
Youth violence can be perpetrated using physical violence, a firearm, or acts of harassment. An example of harassment is bullying, which is often not considered when talking about youth violence. Studies show that 1 in 5 high school students experience bullying (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2019). Those who experience bullying or are the bully themselves are more likely to struggle with their mental health as well as engage in violent behaviors (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2023). The reason behind this is often connected to the idea that we mimic what we see and experience (Elliott, 1997). The most pressing facet of youth violence leading to death is homicide with a firearm, this continues to be a leading cause of death year after year. This is a component of community violence that cannot be overlooked when discussing youth violence. Understanding that youth violence is a complex issue and can be seen in many different sectors is the first step in determining a proper solution.
Intervention Methods:
When examining the entire population of youth in the United States over the last decade, there has been a decline in youth violence, but this is not the case for the population most at-risk which has been continuously affected by violence for decades. As mentioned previously, at-risk youth are more likely to be involved with or affected by youth violence, and African American, Hispanic or Latino young men are disproportionately affected (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020a). Advocating for and allocating resources to the population most affected is the first step in creating an effective intervention. Many interventions targeting this population hope to bring awareness to the issue and provide them with an opportunity to escape the cycle of violence they are living in. It is important to look beyond the individual and emphasize the importance of the family environment they have been born into. Programs that teach parents or caregivers positive parenting strategies and provide them with proper resources to care for their children have been found effective (David-Ferdon et al., 2016). These programs may include parenting classes, while others provide support in ensuring access to essential resources like food, household items, clothes, and much more. This method of intervention is not always feasible, and for that reason we must also work within the education system and the community to fill some of the remaining gaps.
Youth are also likely students, and one way to reach this audience is through the education system. An example of this would be nursery education programs, more commonly known as preschools. Even though preschoolers are not a part of the age demographic contributing to youth violence, it is important to implement intervention programs early in childhood to best mitigate gaps and barriers faced throughout adolescents. Schools have the resources to facilitate productive age-appropriate discussions teaching essential behavioral skills as well as lay a strong foundation for future learning. Nursery education or preschools are not accessible to everyone, often due to cost. With this in mind it is important to consider that even on the first day of kindergarten a child may be substantially behind their peers despite this being their first exposure to institutionalized education. It is important to prioritize nursery education and ensure that programs like these are implemented and accessible in low-income communities. The objective here is to implement a strong foundation of basic concepts like the ABCs while also teaching positive behaviors and habits that can be carried out into the rest of their lives. Having accessible nursery education programs is a great opportunity to compensate for any lack of support a child may be facing throughout the early stages of upbringing. Nursery education programs however obviously would not be an effective way to properly target those currently ages 10 to 24, which is why there is a need for many different intervention program designs.
When looking at youth ages 10 to 24, the line to determine where the best intervention methods can be applied gets blurred. Youth violence peaks during the after school hours of 2 PM to 4pm. On days where school is not in session, there is a rise in the evenings between 6pm and 9pm (Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 2022). Understanding this, we could assume that implementing after school care could be a way to prevent crimes committed after students are released from the supervision of their schools. After school programs are able to ensure that youth are supervised while also providing them tools and resources, whether that be academically, socially, or professionally. Evaluations of current after school programs have determined that they do have a positive impact on youth’s mental and physical health as well as their academic and social success (Council For A Strong America, 2017). By continuing to allocate funding to existing government funded after school programs and working to expand each program's reach, we can mitigate crime rates and ultimately use this as a way to combat youth violence (Council For A Strong America, 2017).
Youth intervention can also happen outside of the education system. Knowing that violence is a learned behavior, there is an opportunity to teach young people positive behaviors. This can be done through youth mentoring. This is most effective when someone who may have been at-risk themselves, who was able to overcome the adversity they faced, then goes back into communities similar to where they grew up using their experiences to teach the next generation. This is effective because it presents youth with a choice. Many times they only see one lifestyle presented to them, one filled with violence and is at the hands of generational trauma and oppression. Providing a role model or a positive support who has similar lived experiences and been able to overcome their own hardships allows for new ideas to form and a different perspective on life to be cultivated. Even with access to positive influences, not every person who is connected with a mentor is automatically no longer at risk. What this does, though, is hold them accountable while also giving them the opportunity to rely on someone who allows them to think outside of the parameters of their lived environment. The purpose of this style of intervention is to value the small changes and the individual success stories of youth who were able to beat the odds presented to them by society based on the environment they were born into.
Environment plays a major role in upbringing and life outcome. This is why having community-wide interventions or events has also been found helpful. These interventions reach a broader audience than interventions that may be happening at schools or other youth-focused programs. An actionable example of this can be ensuring that there are safe, well-lit community parks or holding free events that allow families to engage in something positive outside of the home. Cities who are looking to implement community intervention would need to conduct an asset assessment to determine what resources exist and how they can best leverage them to provide more resources to their communities with the hopes that it will deter youth violence. An example of taking advantage of existing community resources would be taking advantage of a big screen that a local community center may have to offer free family friendly movies on the weekends. Depending on the community, these programs vary and look different but share the same goal of bringing the community together in an attainable way that has a positive impact.
Ultimately, even if there are preventative methods, violence will still occur to some degree. After a violent crime is committed, there is still an opportunity to prevent further crimes and support those who have already been incarcerated. Understanding the penalties and perceptions that have been placed on youth without weighing what contributed to them committing these violent acts is a major component of the issue. Within our juvenile system today and the way our society views crime, it is difficult to live a life outside of your criminal history. This can make it complicated for youth to change their trajectory after one violent act even if it might be considered a petty crime. This leads to repeat offenders who ultimately see no future outside of their violent past. By working to lessen the sentencing for crimes committed by youth, it allows them to choose a different path for themselves. It is also important to ensure that youth have the opportunity and knowledge needed to understand what can be done to remove themselves from the environment and lifestyle that contributed to their violent behaviors. Youth do not have a choice when it comes to the environment they are born into, and we can not continue to penalize them without considering what rehabilitation efforts can be done to prevent re-incarceration as well as understand that crimes may be committed in an act of survival.
What now?
You do not need to be a lawyer, a teacher, or work with youth in any way to advocate for youth intervention programs. You also do not need to be a trained professional to change a life. The impact each of us have on society and the generation to come is one that we do not realize or take advantage of. By acknowledging your own birth right, whether privileged or disadvantaged, you can begin to understand those different from you. There is not one model for success and there is not one category of failure. By realizing the impact our environment plays on both positive and negative outcomes, it becomes easy to advocate for providing those at-risk with more resources to ensure that they can also access the same opportunities as youth born outside of these circumstances. Everyone deserves a choice, and no one's life should end because of a choice they were forced to make.
Youth violence is a public health issue that is constantly evolving and a young person's social determinants of health truly determines their life outcome. If you are living in a position of privilege, it may be hard to understand how violence is the only option for some. This is a difficult concept to understand when it is so far from your normal, but for those who were born into an environment that lacked a basic support system or is plagued with violence, it can seem like the only future presented to them. Some may never be able to imagine participating in acts of violence, where, on the other hand, some can not even fathom making it to their high school graduation. It is essential to remember that thriving becomes challenging when the pursuit of dreams is overshadowed by the necessity of adopting survival tactics. Change is not easy and it is unlikely there will ever be a 100% success rate in any of these intervention programs but by saving one life you are saving the future.
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