Youth, Guns, and Juvenile Justice

The Youth, Guns, and Juvenile Justice project was conducted with funding from the Joyce Foundation of Chicago. The Foundation asked the Urban Institute to review recent trends in youth gun violence and to describe the actions taken by state policymakers in response to that violence.

The falling rate of violent crime in the United States is not likely to reduce the need for effective policies and programs to address youth gun violence. The rate of firearm deaths among American youth is still one of the highest in the world. In the coming years, all levels of government, the private sector, and communities will require sound information and practical guidance as they try to reduce gun violence among young people. This report reviews recent trends in youth gun violence, policy responses to gun violence, and the growing variety of data resources for research on the effects of gun laws. The report is designed to inform discussions about these issues and to aid in the development of future research efforts.