Youth Violence National and State Statistics at a Glance

Youth violence results in considerable physical, emotional, social, and economic consequences. Although rates of youth homicide have declined substantially during recent years, much work remains in reducing this public health burden. Homicide is the second leading cause of death among youth aged 10–24 years in the United States. Violence is also a major cause of nonfatal injuries among youth. In 2009, a total of 650,843 young people aged 10–24 years were treated in emergency departments for nonfatal injuries sustained from assaults. No state is immune to the devastating impact of youth violence.

The goal of this website is to describe trends and patterns in youth violence. Users will find data on national and state-specific trends in youth homicide rates. These pages include information on the leading causes of death and homicide rates by age, sex and race/ethnicity. National data on non-fatal assault-related injury rates and arrests rates are also provided. These data can be used by public health officials, researchers, practitioners and the public to understand and describe the need for prevention programs and policies that address risk and protective factors for youth violence, including policies and programs aimed at promoting prosocial behavior, strengthening families, and creating communities in which youth are safe from violence.

• National Statistics
• State Statistics

 

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS). Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/injury/wisqars/index.html. Last accessed, June 19, 2009.

Federal Bureau of Investigation. Crimes in the United States, 2006. US Department of Justice, Washington, D.C. Available at: http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/cius2006/index.html. Last accessed, June 19, 2009.