Children in a Violent Society

"This book is a unique contribution to our understanding of a problem that is of increasing concern to people here and abroad, but which has received inadequate public attention to date. Over the last two decades, there has been much needed and increased attention to the long-term consequences of childhood victimization, but less attention has been paid to problems that are seen in younger children who witness violence. In keeping with this focus, this volume adopts a developmental perspective to understanding the impact of violence exposure and witnessing violence on children and youth. Although the emphasis is on developmental factors, such as neurodevelopmental effects, effects in infancy, and attachment issues, chapters are wide-ranging and include pieces on firearms injuries and media violence. The book's contributors argue for early preventive intervention and provide examples of innovative prevention and intervention programs for children and families exposed to violence in cities around the country." --Cathy Spatz Widom, PhD, Professor of Criminal Justice and Psychology, The University at Albany (SUNY)

"As judges handling acts of violence in criminal and family court, we rarely look beyond the legal parties and inquire about witnessing violence by children. Dr. Osofsky has documented the alarming rate of occurrence of violence in the lives of our children, has explained the developmental delays and traumatic stress and other effects of violence exposure on children, and has described several innovative education and treatment programs. She has given us the tools to begin to initiate systemic reform. This is a book that every judge should read." --Judge Cindy Lederman, Circuit Court Judge, Juvenile Justice Center, Dade County, Florida; Former Administrator of Dade County Domestic Violence Court

"This is one of the most important books that I have seen. We live in the most violent industrialized country in the world. Violence is increasingly a major influence in our children's lives. Unless we begin to think preventively, violence in their world is bound to escalate and they are bound to be more vulnerable to it. This volume approaches it from a preventive standpoint, and covers the impact on our infants and children if we don't move to prevent violence in their world. We are becoming increasingly aware of the earliest effects on children's development. This volume should stir us all to act!" --T. Berry Brazelton, MD, The Brazelton Center for Infants & Parents

"...an impressive, cross-disciplinary set of essays, literature reviews, and empirical studies that will appeal to developmental, clinical community, and forensic psychologists, as well as to specialists in law, social work, psychiatry, sociology, and law enforcement....The individual chapters of the volume integrate surprisingly well....Perusal of the complete volume is recommended for most readers, but those interested only in particular topics will find individual chapters informative and easily comprehended without the context of the volume as a whole.....CHILDREN IN A VIOLENT SOCIETY is a readable, informative and relatively comprehensive work. It promises to serve as a valuable resource for specialists in a wide range of disciplines interested in a continuing crisis, the implications of violence for America's youth." --David C. Schwebel, Contemporary Psychology
-The purpose of [this] book is two pronged: to provide a broader understanding of the problem and to move beyond understanding to present model programs of prevention and intervention. The book is successful on both accounts....Overall, the contributors have held to high standards of scientific accuracy; prevention and intervention projects are based on state-of-the-art behavioral science research and include evaluation components....Would serve well as a text for graduate or undergraduate courses covering issues relating to children and violence.--Science Books & Films, 8/12/1998ƒƒ Anyone interested in understanding the complex threat of exposure to violence to the well-being of our children will benefit from reading and rereading Children in a Violent Society. --Psychiatric Services, 8/12/1998ƒƒ Excellent....Contains an extensive range of information for professionals in the fields of health care, mental health, criminal justice, child advocacy, public health, and social and human services. --New England Journal of Medicine, 8/12/1998ƒƒ The contributors include some of the leading lights in the field....Children in a Violent Society will serve public health and public safety officials charged with reducing the levels and impacts of violence. Sadly, the overwhelming number of children affected also makes the book a must-read for developmental pediatricians and child mental health workers caring for urban children in the United States. --Journal of the American Medical Association, 8/12/1998