YOUTH VIOLENCE FACTS
The Impact of Violence
on Youth, Families, and Communities
August, 2009

Resources for the development of this report were provided through funding to the Arizona Department of
Health Services from the Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention, Cooperative Agreement
5U17CE924770-04, Integrated Core Injury Prevention and Control Program
Permission to quote from or reproduce materials from this publication is granted when acknowledgment is
made.

Prepared by: Subcommittee on Violence
Arizona Injury Prevention Advisory Council
Injury Prevention Program
150 North 18th Avenue, Suite 320
Phoenix, AZ 85007
(602) 364-1400

Arizona Injury Prevention Advisory Council
Subcommittee on Violence
Markay Adams
Arizona Department of Health Services
Matt Bileski
Arizona Criminal Justice Commission
Tracey Fejt, RN
Banner Children’s Hospital at Banner Desert Medical Center
Pamela Goslar, PhD
IPAC Chair
St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center
David Harden, JD, NREMT-B
Arizona Department of Health Services
Stephanie Mayer
Arizona Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Hildy Saizow
Arizonans for Gun Safety
Paula Segebarth, BSN, RN
Banner Good Samaritan Hospital
Alana Shacter, MPH
Arizona Department of Health Services
Lisa Shumaker, MS
Arizona Department of Health Services
Michelle Silvers, BSN, RN, CEN
Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn
Jamie Smith, MS, MPH
Arizona Department of Health Services
Tomi St. Mars, RN, MSN, CEN, FAEN
IPAC Coordinator
Arizona Department of Health Services
Tiffiny Strever, BSN, RN, CEN
Maricopa Medical Center

Youth Violence Facts

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Table of Contents
Introduction ................................................................................................................... 3
Arizona Youth Involved in Violence: The Health Care Perspective .......................... 5
Assault-Related Injuries and Fatalities Involving Arizona Residents 24 Years and
Younger ....................................................................................................................... 6
Firearm-Related Violence .......................................................................................... 14
Children Under 18 Years ........................................................................................... 15
Youth Involved in Violence: The Criminal Justice Perspective .............................. 17
Arizona Youth Involved in Violent Crime In 2007....................................................... 18
Resources.................................................................................................................... 21
Appendix A: Sample Fact Sheet ................................................................................ 22

Throughout this report, you will see the winning artwork and poetry from a contest run at
two Phoenix middle schools in May 2009. Based on the theme “Keep Your Family
Safe: Stop Gun Violence,” the goal of the contest was to educate youth on the dangers
of gun violence, and ways to prevent it. The contest resulted in over 200 poster and
poetry entries and was coordinated by Arizonans for Gun Safety. The contest focused
on schools in two communities with high numbers of firearm-related deaths and injuries,
including a disproportionate impact on youth 15 to 19 years of age.

Youth Violence Facts

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Introduction
This report was compiled by members of the Injury Prevention Advisory Council Subcommittee
on Violence. Its purpose is to present an overview of youth violence in Arizona, using data from
the health care and criminal justice systems. Presenting both the health care and criminal
justice perspectives presents a more comprehensive picture of youth violence and provides
greater opportunities for developing solutions.
Youth violence is a serious problem in Arizona and the nation that saps the energy, vitality, and
promise from our greatest treasure – our young people. But youth violence is not an intractable
problem. We have the knowledge and tools needed to reduce or even prevent much of the
most serious youth violence. What we need is the resolve to confront the problem
systematically.
Information contained in this report is designed to help program managers, social service
providers, policy makers, and elected officials better understand the impact of youth violence in
order to improve program, policy, and resource decisions. It is intended to serve as a resource
for program planning, responding to funding opportunities, and decision making affecting
Arizona youth and communities.
A review of relevant research indicates the following factors are critical when considering
solutions to youth violence.
Belief in Prevention. Violence and serious crime are preventable problems, particularly among
youth. Scientific evidence demonstrates that the use of violence is a behavior learned from
family interactions, school situations, in the community, and in the media 1 .
Understanding the Problem. In order to address any problem, it is vitally important to
understand the nature, extent, and magnitude of that problem and related issues in the
community. It is also important to understand the science behind risk and protective factors, as
well as becoming aware of proven or promising prevention programs to reduce violence.
Appreciating these issues is essential for developing effective responses to youth violence.
Developing an Array of Strategies and Programs. Complex problems – such as violence
and crime prevention – demand multifaceted and creative solutions. There is no single effective
approach. One example of a new approach is the Unity Model, in which stakeholders come
together to prioritize strategies to prevent youth violence before it occurs 2 . Another is the
Chicago Project for Violence Prevention/Ceasefire being replicated around the country to
develop and implement strategies to reduce and prevent youth violence, particularly gangrelated shootings and killings 3 .
Building a Broad-Based Coalition of Support. Prevention efforts should be inclusive of all
key stakeholders involved in the health and safety of our youth, including community leaders,
law enforcement personnel, public health officials, social service providers, faith-based leaders,
educators, and especially the youth themselves.
1

United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Surgeon General. Youth Violence: A Report of the Surgeon
General, 2001.
Sherman, Lawrence W., Gottfredson, Denise C., MacKenzie, Doris L., Eck, John, Reuter, Peter, and Bushway, Shawn D.
Preventing Crime: What Works, What Doesn't, What's Promising, National Institute of Justice Research in Brief, July 1998.
3
Mulvey, Edward P., Porter, Maryfrances, Chung, He Len. Building Pathways Out of Crime and Delinquency for Serious and Violent
Juvenile Offenders. 2002 Arizona Juvenile Justice Symposium, 2002.
2

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Focusing Efforts on Risk Factors. Risk factors increase the probability that a young person
will become violent (e.g. witnessing violence, availability of firearms) while protective factors
buffer the young person against those risks (e.g. commitment to school). Approaches that focus
on risk factors help to organize prevention efforts and, in most cases, taking a strength-based
approach provides a substantial foundation for prevention efforts.

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Arizona Youth Involved in Violence: The Health Care Perspective

The following data show various health care-related information based upon injuries
sustained through intentional interpersonal violence to Arizona youths 24 years of age
and younger. It is important to note that unless otherwise specified, only information
about the injured youth recorded through medical coding is provided; such data cannot
be linked to perpetrator data at this time. All of the data found in this section comes
from the Arizona Department of Health Services death certificate database, hospital
discharge database, or Arizona Child Fatality Review Program.

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Youth Violence Facts
Assault-Related Injuries Involving Arizona Residents 24 Years and Younger


A total of 8,342 assaults involved Arizona residents 24 years
and younger in 2007.



196 of the total assaults involving young people resulted in
death.



713 of the total assaults involving young people resulted in
non-fatal injuries serious enough to warrant hospitalization.



7,433 of the total assaults involving young people resulted in
less serious non-fatal injuries, but still required emergency
department visits.



Arizona residents 24 years and younger spent a total of
3,334 days hospitalized as the result of non-fatal assaultrelated injuries. Hospital charges totaled $36.3 million.

Data Source: Arizona Department of Health Services.
2007 Mortality Database, 2007 Hospital Discharge Database.

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Figure 1. Percent of Assaults Involving Young People 24 Years and
Younger by Age Group and Sex, Arizona 2007 (n=8,342)
48.2%

50%

Male (n=6,260)

45%

Female (n=2,082)

39.7%

42.0%

39.6%

40%
35%
30%
25%

18.4%

20%

12.2%

15%
10%
5%
0%
0-14 Years

15-19 Years

20-24 Years

Figure 2. Percent of Assaults Involving Young People 24 Years and Younger
by Age Group and Severity of Injury, Arizona 2007 (n=8,342)

54.3%

53.6%

45.7%

50%
40.3%
40%

35.1%
30.6%

30%

20%

15.8%
10.7%

14.0%

10%

0%
Fatal Injuries

Non-Fatal Inpatient Hospitalizations Non-Fatal Emergency Department
Visits

0-14 Years (n=1,145)

15-19 Years (n=3,308)

20-24 Years (n=3,889)

Data Source: Arizona Department of Health Services.
2007 Mortality Database, 2007 Hospital Discharge Database.

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Youth Violence Facts
Fatal Assaults Involving Arizona Residents 24 Years and Younger


196 Arizonans 24 years of age and younger died as a result of an
assault in 2007.



More than half of fatal assaults (54%, n=105) involved young adults
ages 20-24 years.



Almost a third of fatal assaults (31%, n=60) involved teens 15-19
years old.



31 fatal assaults involved children ages 0-14 years.



Most fatal assault victims 24 years of age and younger were males
(79%), and more than two-thirds (70%) involved a firearm as the
mechanism of injury.
Data Source: Arizona Department of Health Services.
2007 Mortality Database, 2007 Hospital Discharge Database.

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Figure 3. Percent of Homicides Among Young People 24 Years and
Younger by Sex and Age Group, Arizona 2007 (n=196)
50%

Male (n=154)

45%

Female (n=42)

44.4%

40%
35%
25.5%

30%
25%
20%
8.6%

15%

7.1%

9.2%
5.1%

10%
5%
0%

0-14 Years

15-19 Years

20-24 Years

Figure 4. Percent of Homicides Involving Young People 24 Years and Younger by
Mechanism of Injury and Age Group, Arizona 2007 (n=196)

78.3% 80.0%

0-14 Years (n=31)

80%

15-19 Years (n=60)
70%

20-24 Years (n=105)

60%
48.4%

50%
40%
29.0%

30%

22.6%

20%

11.7%

9.5%

10%
0.0%

6.7% 5.7%
3.3%

4.8%

0%
Firearm-related injury

Cut/pierce injury

Other mechanism

Unspecified mechanism

Data Source: Arizona Department of Health Services. 2007 Mortality Database.

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Figure 5. Homicides Involving Young People 24 Years and Younger
by Mechanism of Injury, Arizona 2007 (n=196)

Cut/pierce injury
9% (n=17)
Firearm-related injury
70% (n=138)

Other mechanism
8% (n=16)

Unspecified mechanism
13% (n=25)

Data Source: Arizona Department of Health Services. 2007 Mortality Database.

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Youth Violence Facts
Statewide Non-Fatal Assaults Involving Residents 24 Years and Younger


The most common mechanisms of injury in serious assaults were
firearms (33%), cutting or piercing objects (21%), unarmed fights or
brawls (19%), and blunt or thrown objects (11%).



Firearm-related injuries had the longest average hospital stay (6.9
days) and the highest average total hospital charges ($81,166 per
hospitalization).



Young people spent a combined total of 3,334 days hospitalized for
assault-related injuries, totaling $36.3 million in hospital charges.



Young people with less serious assault-related injuries accrued
$19.6 million in hospital charges for emergency department visits.
Data Source: Arizona Department of Health Services.
2007 Mortality Database, 2007 Hospital Discharge Database.

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Figure 6. Non-Fatal Inpatient Hospitalizations due to Assaults by Mechanism of
Injury, Arizona 2007 (n=713)
Unspecified
mechanism
9% (n=67)

Unarmed fight/brawl
19% (n=137)

Other mechanism
7% (n=51)

Struck by blunt or
thrown object
11% (n=79)

Firearm-related injury
33% (n=228)
Cut/pierce injury
21% (n=151)

Figure 7. Average Total Hospital Charges for Non-Fatal Inpatient Hospitalizations
for Assaults Among Residents 24 Years and Younger by Mechanism of Injury,
Arizona 2007 (n=713)
$90,000

$81,166

Average hospital charges

$80,000
$70,000
$60,000

$50,880

$49,796
$44,103

$50,000
$40,000

$42,351
$27,312

$26,525

$30,000
$20,000
$10,000
$Firearm-related
injury

Unspecified
mechanism

Other
mechanism

Cut/pierce injury Struck by blunt
or thrown object

Unarmed
fight/brawl

All mechanisms

Does not include cases of assault involving motor vehicles.

Data Source: Arizona Department of Health Services. 2007 Hospital Discharge Database.

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Youth Violence Facts
Firearm-Related Deaths and Injuries Involving Arizona Teens 15-19 Years of Age


A total of 71 teens 15-19 years old died from firearm-related injuries
in 2007.



Most teen firearm deaths (68%) were due to homicide, 24% were
due to suicide, and 2% resulted from unintentional injuries.



Over half (52%) of teen firearm deaths were among Hispanic youth
and 15% were among African American youth – both percentages
are substantially higher than the proportion of these teens in the
general population.



The firearm-related death rate for Arizona teens 15-19 years was
16.0 deaths per 100,000 residents in 2007. In comparison, the
firearm death rate for all Americans in 2006 was 10.3 deaths per
100,000 residents. The 2007 firearm death rate for all Arizonans
was 14.3 deaths per 100,000 residents.



There were 59 non-fatal hospitalizations among teens 15-19 years
due to serious firearm-related injuries.



There were another 232 emergency department visits by teens 1519 years due to less serious firearm-related injuries.

Comparing Teen Firearm-Related Deaths to All Firearm-Related Deaths Among All
Arizonans
Table 1. Firearm-Related Deaths to Teens 15-19 Years
and All Arizonans by Intent and Race/Ethnicity,
Arizona 2007 (n=71)
Intent
Teen Firearm-Related All Firearm-Related
Deaths
Deaths
Homicide
65%
36%
Suicide
24%
58%
Unintentional Injuries
2%
1%
Race/Ethnicity
Hispanic
White, Non-Hispanic
African American
Native American

52%
30%
15%
3%

30%
59%
7%
3%

Data Source: Arizona Department of Health Services.
2007 Mortality Database, 2007 Hospital Discharge Database.

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Rates of Firearm-Related Violence, Arizona Compared to the United States
United States 4
 30,896 firearm-related deaths of any intent in 2006
 10.3 firearm-related deaths per 100,000 (all ages, crude rate)
 13.2 teen firearm-related deaths per 100,000 (15-19 year olds)
 69,863 non-fatal firearm-related injuries in 2007
Arizona
 921 firearm-related deaths of any intent in 2007
 14.3 firearm-related deaths per 100,000 (all ages)
 16.0 teen firearm-related deaths per 100,000 (15-19 year olds)
 1,611 non-fatal firearm-related injuries in 2007

Crude Mortality Rate per 100,000 Residents

Figure 8. Firearm-Related Deaths Among Teens 15-19 Years Old,
United States and Arizona, 2000-2006
25
23.1

20.1

22.9

20
17.5

14.8

15
10

12.9

5

12.4

12.2

12.1

23.1

16.2
12.5

12.1

13.2

U.S.
Arizona

0

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

Data Source: Arizona Department of Health Services.
2007 Mortality Database, 2007 Hospital Discharge Database.
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. WISQARS.
Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/injury/wisqars/index.html.

4

2006 is the latest national data available for firearm-related fatalities.

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Youth Violence Facts
Firearm-Related Deaths and Injuries Involving Children Under 18 Years


A total of 48 children died in Arizona from firearm-related injuries in
2007.



83% of the firearm-related deaths among children in Arizona
involved a handgun.



In 25% of the firearm-related deaths among children, the owner of
the fatal weapon was the victim’s parent or step-parent.



In 21% of the firearm-related deaths among children in Arizona, the
owner of the fatal firearm was a friend or relative of the victim.



There were 76 hospitalizations among children younger than 18
years as a result of serious, but non-fatal, firearm-related injuries.



There were an additional 133 emergency department visits by
children younger than 18 years for less serious firearm-related
injuries.
Data Source: Arizona Department of Health Services. (2009).
th
15 Annual Report on 2007 Deaths. Phoenix, AZ.
Retrieved from http://www.azdhs.gov/phs/owch/pdf/cfr2008.pdf.
2007 Hospital Discharge Database.

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Firearm-Related Deaths Involving Children Younger Than 18 Years, 2007 (n=48)
Type of Firearm Involved
Handgun
Shotgun
Assault Rifle
Hunting Rifle

83%
6%
4%
2%

Owner of Firearm Involved
Parent/Step-parent
Friend/Acquaintance
Other Relative

25%
13%
8%

Data Source: Arizona Department of Health Services. (2009).
th
15 Annual Report on 2007 Deaths. Phoenix, AZ.
Retrieved from http://www.azdhs.gov/phs/owch/pdf/cfr2008.pdf.

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Youth Involved in Violence: The Criminal Justice Perspective

Moving away from victims of violence, the following data show total arrest numbers of
youth up to 24 years of age suspected of Part I violent crimes and various other crimes
in Arizona. The following excerpt from the 2007 Crime in Arizona Report must be noted
regarding the data:
It should be kept in mind that arrest totals do not indicate the number of different
offenders involved in the commission of a crime...Also, arrest totals do not
indicate the number of charges placed against an offender at the time of the
arrest. (p.10)
All data found in this section comes from the Arizona Department of Public Safety’s
Crime in Arizona Report (2003-2007).

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Youth Violence Facts
Arizona Youth Involved in Violent Crime In 2007


A total of 4,143 arrests for Part I violent crimes* involved people 24 years and
younger. These youth arrests represented 47% of all Part I violent crime arrests
in 2007.



More than 47% of the youth-involved Part I violent crime* arrests involved teens
15-19 years old in 2007.



125 arrests for murder/non-negligent manslaughter involved young people 24
years and younger, representing 42% of all murder/non-negligent manslaughter
arrests in 2007.



The majority of murder/non-negligent manslaughter arrests involved young
people 20-24 years old (59%, n=74), followed by teens 15-19 years old (39%,
n=49).



In 2007, young people were involved in 2,043 arrests for weapons offenses
(carrying, possessing, attempts, etc.), 2,785 arrests for aggravated assaults and
10,582 arrests for simple assaults.



Overall, youth-involved arrests for Part I violent crimes* decreased 0.5% from
2003 to 2007. During this same time period however, Part I violent crime arrests
involving teens 15-19 years old increased 6.6% and were higher than other youth
age groups by 2007.
* Part I violent crimes include murder/non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault.
Data Source: Arizona Department of Public Safety. (2003-2007).
Crime in Arizona Report. Phoenix, AZ.
Retrieved from http://www.azdps.gov/crimereport/default.asp.

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Total Part I Violent Crime* Arrests

Figure 9. Part I Violent Crime* Arrests by Age Group and Year,
Arizona 2003-2007
2,500
2,000
1,500
1,000
500
0

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

528

605

543

547

499

15-19 Years

1,838

1,819

1,905

1,951

1,959

20-24 Years

1,797

1,789

1,714

1,649

1,685

14 Years and Younger

* Part I violent crimes include murder/non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault.

Figure 10. Arrests Among Youths 24 Years and Younger for Weapons
Offenses, Aggravated Assaults, and Simple Assaults by Year, Arizona 20032007

Total Arrests

15,000
10,000
5,000
0

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

Weapons Offenses

1,766

1,874

1,850

2,031

2,043

Aggravated Assaults

3,073

3,196

3,073

2,960

2,785

Simple Assaults

10,449

10,378

10,453

10,589

10,582

Data Source: Arizona Department of Public Safety. (2003-2007).
Crime in Arizona Report. Phoenix, AZ: Author.
Retrieved from http://www.azdps.gov/crimereport/default.asp.

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Figure 11. Aggravated and Simple Assault Arrests by Age
Group, Arizona 2007 (n=31,559)
14 Years and
Younger
8% (n=2,537)
25 Years and
Older
58% (n=18,192)

15-19 Years
17% (n=5,459)

20-24 Years
17% (n=5,371)

Figure 12. Murder/Non-Negligent Manslaughter Arrests
by Age Group, Arizona 2007 (n=300)
14 Years and
Younger
1% (n=2)
15-19 Years
16% (n=49)

25 Years and
Older
58% (n=175)

20-24 Years
25% (n=74)

Data Source: Arizona Department of Public Safety. (2003-2007).
Crime in Arizona Report. Phoenix, AZ: Author.
Retrieved from http://www.azdps.gov/crimereport/default.asp.

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Resources


Arizona Coalition Against Domestic Violence
http://www.azcadv.org
Contact the Arizona Coalition Against Domestic Violence for a toolkit of information and
prevention strategies regarding teen dating violence.



Arizona Firearm Injury Prevention Coalition
http://www.afipc.org/
This website offers information and statistics specific to Arizona, and the coalition provides free
firearm locks.



Arizonans for Gun Safety
http://www.azfgs.com/
Arizonans for Gun Safety offers outreach materials and programs, including training for middle
and high school students.



Break The Cycle
http://www.breakthecycle.org/resources.html
Break the Cycle offers a curriculum and informational downloads on dating and domestic
violence.



CeaseFire
http://www.ceasefirechicago.org/
The CeaseFire campaign originated in Chicago as a public health model for reducing firearm
violence.



Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention
and Control
http://www.cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention/index.html
The CDC’s NCIPC serves as a national resource on various violence-related focus areas,
including youth and school violence.



Common Sense About Kids And Guns
http://www.kidsandguns.org/
This website offers an extensive resource database, action steps for community members, and
tips for safe firearm ownership.



National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center
http://www.safeyouth.org/scripts/index.asp
This federally-sponsored website includes statistics, reports, articles, and links to violence
prevention program models.



United States Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
Prevention
http://ojjdp.ncjrs.org/pubs/gun_violence/contents.html
The OJJDP has compiled a list of promising practices, including contact information and details
about particular programs.



Urban Networks to Increase Thriving Youth (UNITY)
http://www.preventioninstitute.org/unity.html
The well-respected UNITY model provides assessment and evaluation tools, as well as program
curricula aimed at metropolitan populations.

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Appendix A: Sample Fact Sheet

Youth Violence Facts
The Impact of Violence on Youth, Families, and Communities
Background:
The Injury Prevention Advisory Council Subcommittee on Violence prepared a report on youth
violence in Arizona. The group used health care and criminal justice data to compile a
comprehensive statistical picture of youth violence in Arizona.
Key Findings:
Incidence:
 A total of 8,342 assaults occurred to people aged 24 and younger in 2007.
 713 of the total assaults resulted in serious injuries that warranted hospitalization.
 196 of the total assaults resulted in death.
Victims:
 In most youth homicides, the victim was male (78.6%), aged 20-24 years (53.5%). Victims aged
15-19 comprised 30.6% of the homicides among youth.
 Over half (52%) of teen firearm-related deaths involved Hispanic youth and 15% involved African
American youth; both rates are substantially higher than their percentages in the general
population.
Mechanism:
 Firearms were the most common mechanism of injury in both serious non-fatal assaults (33%)
and homicides (70%).
The Financial Cost:
 Arizonans 24 years and younger spent a total of 3,334 days hospitalized as the result of non-fatal
assault-related injuries. Hospital charges for these assaults totaled $36.3M.
 An additional $19.6M in hospital charges was accrued for non-fatal assault-related emergency
department visits in 2007.
Recommendations:
Practical solutions to youth violence start with a belief in prevention and an understanding of the
problem. Communities should develop an array of strategies and programs to break down their
particular barriers and to meet their particular needs. A broad-based coalition involving community
leaders, law enforcement, social service providers, faith-based leaders, schools, and parents can
develop a multi-faceted approach. Youth should be involved in the planning process, as they are the
experts on their situation. An analysis of risk and protective factors can help ascertain community
assets and pitfalls and can guide prevention work.
Visit www.azdhs.gov/phs/owch to access the full report, including resources.

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