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Violence Against Children and Youth – Press Room

Role of Drugs, Drive-by Shootings, and Other Crimes in Gang Homicides

(Posted 01/26/2012)

Gang homicides often occur in public and involve firearms, but are less likely to involve drugs or other crimes than generally believed by the public, according to a report released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Gang homicides frequently involve youth as victims and are often retaliatory reactions to gang conflict.

First study on gang homicides using CDC’s National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS)

This report analyzed 2003-2008 data from large cities within 17 NVDRS states. Of those, five cities met the criteria for having high levels of gang homicide: Los Angeles, California; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Long Beach, California; Oakland, California; and Newark, New Jersey.

Photo of teens walking on the streetsOther key findings in the report include:

  • Gang homicide victims were younger than non-gang homicide victims in all cities.
  • More than 90 percent of gang homicide victims were male.
  • In all cities, approximately 92–96 percent of gang homicide incidents involved firearms. For non-gang homicides, firearms were involved in 57–86 percent of the incidents.
  • Drive-by shootings were more likely to contribute to gang homicides than other types of homicide in Los Angeles and Oklahoma City.
  • In Los Angeles and Oakland, a higher proportion of gang victims were Hispanic. In Oklahoma City, a higher proportion of gang victims were black-non-Hispanic.
  • Bystander victims were rare among gang homicides across all cities.
  • Gang homicides in the cities of Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Oakland California were primarily precipitated by arguments and not by drug trafficking, drug use, or other crimes in progress.

This report underscores the need to help youth learn how to diffuse and resolve conflict without resorting to violence and to prevent them from becoming involved in gangs in the first place.

Learn More:

Members of the News Media
For more information call CDC Injury Center Media Relations at 770-488-4902.

General Public
Inquiries from the general public are handled by CDC-INFO at 800-CDC-INFO or 800-232-4636.

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CDC Survey Finds Sexual Violence, Stalking, and Intimate Partner Violence Widespread in the U.S.

(Posted 12/14/2011)

Photo: Prescription pill bottlesDid you know?

  • On average, 24 people per minute are victims of rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner in the United States. This equals more than 12 million people per year.
  • 1 in 5 women and 1 in 71 men in the US have been raped in their life.
  • 1 in 6 women and 1 in 19 men in the US have experienced stalking in their life.
  • Sexual violence, stalking, and intimate partner violence place a heavy toll on Americans, particularly women. 

What is CDC doing to prevent these forms of violence?

On November 15, 2011, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) 2010 Additional Info. One of CDC’s newest public health surveillance systems, NISVS is designed to better describe and monitor the magnitude of sexual violence, stalking, and intimate partner violence victimization in the United States. It is the first survey of its kind to provide simultaneous national and state-level prevalence estimates of violence for all states.

The findings in this report underscore the importance of prevention efforts. NISVS provides data that can help inform policies and programs aimed at the specific needs of state and national organizations and also a way to monitor and measure these efforts.

Learn More:

Members of the News Media
For more information call CDC Injury Center Media Relations at 770-488-4902.

General Public
Inquiries from the general public are handled by CDC-INFO at 800-CDC-INFO or 800-232-4636.

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Majority of Teen Deaths Attributed to Unintentional and Violence-related Injuries

(Posted 05/05/2010)

TeensMore than 16,375 teens, from ages 12 to 19, die each year. The tragedy is that nearly 75% of all teen deaths are attributable to unintentional and violence-related injuries and are considered preventable. According to a newly released CDC National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) report, Mortality Among Teenagers 12 – 19: United States 1999 – 2006, the top three causes of teen deaths are:

The Injury Center is committed to preventing injuries and violence in at-risk groups, like teens. We are working to translate our scientific discoveries into effective programs that can improve the health and safety of people in all communities. Find out more about our research and prevention activities in the following areas:

 
Members of the News Media

For more information call CDC Injury Center Media Relations at 770-488-4902.

General Public

Inquiries from the general public are handled by CDC-INFO at 800-CDC-INFO or 800-232-4636.

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Dating Matters: Understanding Teen Dating Violence Prevention

Dating Matters

(Posted 02/25/2010)

It is important to begin to teach teens about safe and respectful relationships early – before they begin to date. Violence is a growing public health issue. In a nationwide CDC survey of students in grades 9-12, nearly one in 10 students reported being hit or physically hurt on purpose by a boyfriend or girlfriend at least once in the past 12 months.

Dating Matters: Understanding Teen Dating Violence Prevention is a 60-minute, interactive training designed to help educators, youth-serving organizations, and others working with teens understand the risk factors and warning signs associated with teen dating violence.

Developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in partnership with Liz Claiborne Inc., Dating Matters also will highlight the importance of promoting healthy relationships.

Learn More


Members of the News Media
For more information call CDC Injury Center Media Relations at 770-488-4902.

General Public
Inquiries from the general public are handled by CDC-INFO at 800-CDC-INFO or 800-232-4636.

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Teen Dating Violence

Choose Respect

(Posted 11/04/2009 and 12/03/2009)
One out of 11 teens report being hit or physically hurt on purpose by a boyfriend or girlfriend at least once in the past 12 months. Even something like putting someone down or trying to change how they dress can be a sign of an unhealthy relationship. That's why adults, especially parents, need to talk to kids and teens about the importance of developing healthy, respectful relationships.



Members of the News Media
For more information call CDC Injury Center Media Relations at 770-488-4902.

General Public
Inquiries from the general public are handled by CDC-INFO at 800-CDC-INFO or 800-232-4636.

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Sexual Violence Around the World

Child's hands holding a globe(Posted 10/2009)
Violence is a global challenge and a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Sexual violence against girls is a substantial health and human rights problem throughout the world, yet there is limited data documenting the magnitude and regionally-specific components of the problem.

CDC collaborates with a variety of international agencies and institutions to shape global health policies and to develop, implement, and evaluate programs.


Members of the News Media
For more information call CDC Injury Center Media Relations at 770-488-4902.

General Public
Inquiries from the general public are handled by CDC-INFO at 800-CDC-INFO or 800-232-4636.

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