POLICE ASSOCIATION OF NOVA SCOTIA 123 • DIFFERENT DEFINITIONS EMPLOYED IN DEFINING COLLECTIVE YOUTH VIOLENCE. Some define the activity according to their perceptions and descriptions of the perpetrators. This may include young persons who hang around in malls, and who may have been involved in infrequent violence. Definitions may be restricted to more organized youth gangs primarily involved in criminal and violent behaviour. Be careful. Organized youth gangs involved in violence are rare. Much of the violence committed by young persons is in response to particular situations. It is often transitory, spontaneous and unplanned. • CONFUSED AND DISTORTED "COUNTING". Numbers provided on youth violence can be deceiving. Differing definitions of violence will result in varying estimates as to the extent of violence. Individual organizations which track violence may also provide a limited understanding of the phenomenon. For example, schools may be hesitant to provide information for fear of their reputations. On the other hand, agencies may exaggerate the incidence of violence. School data, if available, may include a wide range of behaviours, such as verbal abuse, which are not recognized as violent behaviour by some observers. Youth-serving organizations dealing with high-risk youth may experience a pattern of violence which is not representative of the pattern in the wider community. Reports based on these patterns can distort public perceptions of the extent of youth violence in a community. • PERCEPTIONS CAN BE MISLEADING. Self-report data on the fear of violence among young people may not provide an accurate picture of the extent of violence. They may, in part, represent a response to isolated incidents. They may reflect what is going on in one part of the community. While the fear is real, it may hinder an understanding of the actual nature and extent of youth violence. Similarly, perceptions of persons working with youth at risk may offer a distorted view of youth violence. Their perceptions, experiences, self-interest or other factors related to their work may influence their views. A distorted understanding of your community's youth-violence situation can lead to serious problems. Young people may be unfairly labelled by the public. A complete "service" system, such as the school system or a public housing community, may be considered to have problems which are in fact limited to a few incidents. Communities may inappropriately direct limited resources such as additional law-enforcement resources to deal with a perceived problem that is actually very limited in scope. 5.2 Where Can You Acquire Information on the Nature And Extent of Youth Violence in Your Community? There are many sources of information you may explore. As noted above, you need to be cautious as to the accuracy, consistency and appropriateness of the information. Sources may include: THE POLICE The police may provide some incidence data on individual as well as collective youth violence, the nature and patterns of the violence, and the locations of frequent violent incidents. Specialized police services, such as youth units, school liaison programs and store-front operations, may provide particularly useful qualitative information not usually captured in formal, quantitative reports. Police-community consultative committees often address youth-at-risk issues, and may be another useful source. COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS Community organizations may also be helpful. Businesses and neighbourhood organizations are often aware of patterns of youth violence in their areas. Ethnic community groups may address patterns of ethnic youth violence. Special interest groups concerned with women, seniors, gays and lesbians or others who may be particularly vulnerable to violence may also provide helpful information. COMMUNITYAGENCIES Various community agencies have useful information derived from public health and street-outreach programs. Victim services may be another useful source. Information on youth at risk in your community may be available in research conducted by service agencies, social-planning and health-planning organizations. Do not forget to contact your public transportation and socialhousing security departments. Private security companies may also have some useful information. These organizations are often well versed on patterns of collective youth violence. THE SCHOOL SYSTEM School authorities may provide information on the nature, extent, location and perpetrators of violence. Remember that school boards in your community may have adopted safe school policies and corresponding protocols that include specific procedures for reporting incidents of violence. 5.3 Working with Available Information In organizing the information available, try to ensure that it reflects the various definitions of youth violence which may exist within your community. Clarify the source and nature of the data. whether it's statistical data based on charges or anecdotal information. Make note of the limitations present in the various means of reporting on youth violence. It is continued...
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