Potential Roles for Youth Involvement in Violence Prevention

The utility of involving youth in public safety for the purpose of preventing violence is given prominence in this concluding chapter. Thus, contemporary recommendations for making greater use of the youth programs most closely associated with public safety activities are addressed. For example, the recruitment and training of America’s youth can further aspects of homeland security. Civil Air Patrol Cadets, Sea Cadets, and the Junior ROTC units are affiliated with military organizations concerned with the nation’s defense and security. The enrollment of students in such structured programs may provide additional resources for assisting troubled youth in urban neighborhoods and addressing a wide variety of other community needs. This same benefit is true for a wide range of other youth programs. Yet, time may be running out for the continuation of some youth programs. There is a shortage of adult mentors for many youth programs. The chapter begins with a brief summary of various research findings focusing on the problem of youth and violence. Special attention is given to youth activities involving ways to educate community members about gun violence. Public safety youth organizations can be especially effective in promoting the enforcement of laws against unlawful carrying of weapons and supporting life-saving gun violence prevention laws like background checks on all gun sales, domestic violence firearm relinquishment laws (upheld in 2024 in United States v. Rahimi), prohibitions on “ghost guns,” and opposing harmful laws, like “Stand Your Ground.” Essential details about the Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program's youth protection policies are provided.