Youth at Risk
A growing body of research indicates that kids who participate in one risky behavior often participate in others. Whether in school, at home or with peers, youth are bombarded by negative cultural influences, peer pressure and often challenging life circumstances that include poverty, homelessness, foster care, lack of parental involvement, domestic violence in the home, bullying and harassment at school or experience with juvenile detention. Some kids prove resilient; others do not. We do know that kids who are connected to caring adults, engaged in school and have productive roles at home, in organizations or the community at large have strengths or "assets" that help to insulate them from pressures and influences that prove destructive. In contrast, kids who find themselves hopeless, depressed and disconnected from others can turn to increasingly harmful and risky behavior.
Youth Use of Inhalants and Aerosols Researchers estimate that 1.1 million U.S. youths inhaled household products to get high in 2005. This 50-state chart outlines statutes that prohibit the use of or the sale of inhalants or aerosols for the purpose of "huffing".
State Suicide Prevention Plans Approximately 25 states have addressed the issue of suicide by implementing statewide suicide prevention plans. Learn more about what states are doing in this new NCSL Legisbrief.
School Violence: Tackling the Schoolyard Bully: Combining Policymaking With Prevention, July 2003 - As awareness of harassment, intimidation and hate in the school setting has grown, state legislatures have begun to address this problem as well. At least 17 states have passed anti-bullying legislation and 23 states considered similar measures in 2002-2003 legislative sessions.
Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBSS) - This data is compiled by the National Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Office of Adolescent Health, from an extensive survey given to high school students every two years (Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, YRBSS). The representative samples of 9th - 12th grade students are drawn from all 50 states and their responses can be broken down by state, race, gender and some major cities. With this interactive database, you can examine student responses to questions about their use of alcohol, drugs and tobacco as well as levels of violence as perpetrator or victim, sexual behaviors, firearms and other weapons, levels of physical activity and nutrition.
Youthful Offenders
Not all youthful offenders spend months or years in a juvenile detention facility or are guilty of serious criminal offenses. Many "troubled kids" commit a pattern of lesser offenses that can result in fines, driver's license revocation, community service, or court-mandated participation in diversion or intervention programs designed as alternatives to incarceration. Even those youth who end up serving time in the juvenile justice system are released at some point to resume their lives in the community, go to school and interact with their peers. Sadly, research shows that many of these kids return to the same challenging circumstances that put them at risk prior to incarceration.
Out of Lock up, Now What? - Youth who serve time in the juvenile justice system are released at some point to resume their lives in the community, go to school and interact with their peers. Sadly, a large number of youthful offenders end up back in the system. This article examines how supporting youthful offenders re-enter the community can help kids and save states money.
Addressing Truancy, Preventing Delinquency - Truancy is a warning sign that a student could be headed toward educational failure. Students who are chronically truant fall behind in their schoolwork and eventually drop out.
To find out more information about juvenile justice issues, visit:
NCSL's Juvenile Justice Project or
The U.S. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP).
Additional NCSL Publications
Children Exposed to Violence, Legisbrief, April/May 2000
Comprehensive Juvenile Justice: A Legislator's Guide, NCSL's Criminal Justice and Children and Families Programs, 1999
Additional Internet Resources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
National Center for Juvenile Justice (NCJJ) State Juvenile Justice Profiles
National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice (NCMHJJ)
National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS)
National Institute of Justice (NIJ)
For more information regarding youth issues, please contact Rochelle Finzel or Kelli Kelty in the Denver office at 303.364.7700 or cyf-info@ncsl.org or either Sheri Steisel or Lee Posey in the D.C. office at 202.624.5400 or fedhumserv-info@ncsl.org.
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