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VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAM INVENTORY

Evidence is accumulating that most violence can be prevented. Studies show that it is cost-effective to intervene with violence-prone young people and adults before they commit violent acts, to give them non-violent options, skills, and attitudes. When this is done, and individuals develop a variety of strategies for meeting their needs, society becomes safer.

This preliminary inventory describes over 40 violence-prevention programs that were established in California. It is the initial product of a project of the Friends Committee on Legislation Education Fund, which seeks to highlight exemplary violence prevention programs in the State. This project has been undertaken in the hope that every community that feels threatened by violence will be able to find patterns that it can emulate to prevent violence before it starts.

Many of the programs included here use volunteers, community activists, and existing resources, so it does not require costly changes to replicate them in other communities. Mostly, the things that are needed are inspiration, leadership, and commitment from people in the community. Are YOU willing to start asking questions about violence in your community, and make sure your neighborhood is as safe as it can be?

The lists linked below contain additional links to many of the programs. Each community that feels unsafe should have access to one or two programs in each of the following four areas:

1. Domestic violence prevention programs.

Besides endangering children, parents, and law enforcement officers, violence in the household often teaches young people to be bullies and victims on the school yard and in life. This link profiles nine programs that address domestic violence, directly or indirectly. Some serve families; others serve individuals. Several help women who are enmeshed in violent relationships.

2. Preschool, school-based and neighborhood programs.

The education system is also a community in which young people can learn to attain their goals nonviolently. Often, children in these programs are able to pass their skills on to parents and older siblings. This link profiles eleven violence prevention programs that are located in schools and neighborhoods. Some involve the entire campus. Others teach particular conflict-resolution skills. Several address particular problems, such as gang violence.

3. Community development projects

Some neighborhoods are known as high crime areas. These places need special attention so that safety can be increased. This link profiles twelve community violence prevention projects. Some address social and economic deficits that are known to lead to violence. Others deal with the needs of vulnerable communities, such as those where English is a second language. Several serve an entire city.

4. Correctional programs

Some patterns of violence are not confronted until an individual is involved in the juvenile probation, jail, or prison system. At this level, interventions become more focused on the offender, and the victims sometimes feel left out of the picture. This link profiles twelve programs that are centered on the criminal justice system. Some serve youth. Others address older offenders and many attend to the needs of the victim. Several serve inmates, probationers, and parolees.

We hope this inventory will serve as a road map for those who want to take action to create safe communities.

Resources on Violence Prevention

Numerous studies and reviews of evaluations on violence prevention programs have been published. Following are a few:

Butler, Edgar W., Michele A. Adams, Glenn T. Tsunokai, and Max Neiman. 1998. Evaluating Evaluations of Anti-Violence Programs. Riverside, CA: Office of Community Research Projects, Department of Sociology, University of California.

California Attorney General. 1995. Violence Prevention, A Vision of Hope. Final report of the Attorney General's Policy Council on Violence Prevention, Sacramento, CA: Crime and Violence Prevention Center, California Attorney General's Office.

Currie, Elliott. 1998. Crime and Punishment in America. New York: Henry Holt.

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, National Council on Crime and Delinquency. Comprehensive Strategy Curriculum; Promising approaches for Graduated Sanctions. Forthcoming.

Sherman, Lawrence W., Denise Gottfredson, Doris MacKenzie, John Eck, Peter Reuter, and Shawn Bushway. 1997. Preventing Crime: What Works, What Doesn't, What's Promising. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs.

Steinhart, David, and Laura Brown. "California's Youth Violence Prevention Budget," Commonweal, the Juvenile Justice Program, Current Issues, May 1998.

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