Dr. James C. (Buddy) Howell is a Senior Research Associate with the National Gang Center, in Tallahassee, Florida, where he has worked for over twenty years. He formerly worked at the U.S. Department of Justice for 23 years, mostly as director of research and program development in the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. He has published over 50 works on youth and street gangs, and a similar number on juvenile justice and delinquency prevention, and seven books on both topics. His gang publication topics include street gang history; gang homicides; drug trafficking; gangs in schools; hybrid gangs; myths about gangs; risk factors; gang problem trends; gang history in the United States; and what works in preventing gang activity, combating gangs, and reducing gang crime. He is very active in helping states and localities reform their juvenile justice systems and use evidence-based programs, and in working with these entities to address youth gang problems in a balanced approach.
Comprehensive and detailed, this book provides information on: the history of the United States' response to juvenile delinquency; the increasing seriousness of the problem; and the public policies available to deal with it. James C Howell cites the pressing need for a clearer understanding of the risk factors for youth violence. Long-term solutions such as the development of more effective prevention programmes, better-matched offender/treatment programmes, and a more cost effective juvenile justice system are also discussed. Extensive figures and tables are included.
