Understanding Community Violence

Community violence is everyone’s business because not a single person in a community is left unaffected by the deleterious effects that violence leaves behind.

Understanding Community Violence

Youth violence is a critical public health issue that has significant short- and long-term negative
impacts on youth, their families, and their communities. Homicide, for example, was the third
leading cause of death in 2018 for young people aged 10-24 years in the United States
(U.S.).

Growing up in the midst of community violence can impact youths’ social, emotional, behavioral and cognitive development. It can disrupt their baseline of safety, making it more difficult for entire families and communities to sustain a sense of stability. For those who live in or near places where violence is very common, the daily risks can take a toll on physical and emotional health. And the lingering psychological impacts left on children, with ongoing exposure to violence and trauma, are immeasurable. Violence holds victims, families, friends and entire neighborhoods hostage, causing paralyzing fear and trauma that is ongoing. Community violence is everyone’s business because not a single person in a community is left unaffected by the deleterious effects that violence leaves behind. Community violence can be reduced and prevented. We can all take action to improve the lives of those who have survived violence. There are many factors that contribute to violence, ranging from individual, relationship, community, and societal. Solutions must address these factors.

Factors That Contribute To Community Violence

Societal

Exposure to messages that accept and promote violence, lack of policies that provide access to resources in certain communities (job opportunities, prevention programming).

Relationship

Conflict in the home, poor monitoring, exposure to delinquent peers, no access to supportive adults.

Community

Unstable housing, neighborhood crime and gang activity, isolation and lack of connectedness in the community.

Individual

Early exposure to violence, lack of support for academic achievement, and impulse control difficulties.

Source: David-Ferdon C, Simon TR. Preventing Youth Violence: Opportunities for Action. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014.

To learn more about solutions that address these factors

Understanding Community Violence