Perspective Chapter: The Assessment of Youth Violence

Abstract

Youth violence is a growing public health phenomenon that plagues communities both nationally and internationally, leading to billions of dollars in costly consequences. Youth violence ranks among the top five causes of death among youth in the United States. The development of violence risk assessment tools that identify at-risk youth measures risk factors that lead to violent behavior. In addition, some risk assessment tools identify risk-reduction interventions used to reduce the risk of future or chronic violence. More recent research has focused on individual differences in risk and resilience factors of youth. Moreover, researchers have identified both gender and ethnic differences in risk and resilience models utilized for risk reduction. However, the development and evolution of risk assessment for future violence among youth should not stagnate, as gender and ethnic differences should be incorporated into revised and new assessment tools. After carefully considering the available research, violence assessments should be refined to include gender and culturally relevant considerations to become a reliable and valid resource that is both gender and culturally inclusive and unbiased.