Reducing Violent Crimes and Intentional Injuries

Since the mid-1980’s, the rise in serious urban violence has had at least two effects. First, it has threatened the lives of urban residents, especially youths, and the social and economic fabric of the communities in which they live. Second, it has aggravated public doubts about the ability of government to maintain the quality of urban life. More specifically, these doubts have raised questions about traditional responses to violence such as reducing poverty and other suspected root causes of violence, imprisoning perpetrators, and rehabilitating criminal offenders.