Violence and Childhood in the Inner City (Cambridge Studies in Criminology)

The contributors to this book believe that something can be done to make life in American cities safer, to make growing up in the urban centers less risky, and to reduce the violence that so often permeates urban childhoods. They consider why there is so much violence, why some people become violent and others do not, and why violence varies among areas.

Biological and psychological characteristics of individuals are considered; as is how the urban environment, especially street culture, affects childhood development. The authors review a variety of intervention strategies, considering when it would be appropriate to use them. Drawing upon ethnographic commentary, lab experiments, historical reviews, and program descriptions, - the authors present multiple opinions on the causes of urban violence and the changes necessary to reduce it.